Latest news with #Hebburn
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Hebburn's Durham Court demolition decision to be re-examined
A decision to demolish an 18-storey tower block and rehouse its elderly residents is to be re-examined next Tyneside Council's Labour cabinet recently unanimously agreed plans for the future of Durham Court, the last remaining residential high-rise building in block, built in 1974, was deemed to have outlived its "original intended lifespan" of 50 years and that carrying out repairs costing an estimated £12m were not worth it. But the decision to tear it down will now go before a council scrutiny committee on 9 June after concerns were raised. This means a public meeting of the panel will be held to decide whether the move should be referred back to the cabinet for request for the call-in was recently signed by opposing councillors from across the political board, including South Tyneside Alliance Group (STAG) representatives, independents and one Green Group councillor. STAG's Andrew Guy said the demolition would be an "appalling mistake". "This is about proper accountability," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "Decisions of this scale shouldn't be signed off without full and open consideration of the long-term impact on residents, services and public investment."It was previously revealed that if the demolition goes ahead residents would face the upheaval of being rehoused over a possible five-year period. However, the Labour-led local authority has promised tenants it will find new homes for them in in May, council leader Tracey Dixon said: "We will ensure right from the very beginning that the tenants will be given the homes of their choice."It's all about giving them priority."We know Durham Court is their family home, so we're here to support them and make sure they lead healthy and happy lives." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
I dropped seven dress sizes on Mounjaro...but then 7 of my teeth fell out - and that wasn't the only unsightly side effect
A 42 year-old woman who took a weight loss jab was horrified when she looked in the mirror and saw she had developed two rows of jagged broken teeth. Hope Lancaster Colquhoun said while the injection led to her losing nine stone, which helped her drop seven dress sizes, it came at a shocking cost. 'The weight just slipped off me, but sadly, so did my teeth,' she told The Sun. The content creator, from Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, said her natural smile had always been a source of personal pride despite being mocked for her weight. But she claims taking Mounjaro, dubbed the King Kong of weight loss jabs, resulted in her teeth snapping in half. 'As I ran my tongue against the top of my mouth, I noticed a sharp, jagged edge,' she said. 'I looked in the mirror and was left horrified as not one, but multiple, of my teeth had completely snapped in half.' Seeking medical help the mother, once cruelly called the 'whale' because of her size, was told the damage to her teeth was likely due her rapid weight-loss. 'While I had lost weight, I had also lost such an important part of me,' she said. Later a dentist told her at least seven of her teeth would have to immediately be pulled out. 'I sat in the chair, feeling sick to my stomach, as they yanked my natural teeth away,' she recalled. She was eventually given a partial denture fitted which she said made her 'feel like a granny'. Ms Lancaster Colquhoun also needed four fillings and has now spent over £3,700 on fixing her teeth. Despite now needing dentures for life, she insists the taking the weight loss jab has saved her life. 'I'd encourage people to consider the jab because of how life-changing it's been for me,' she said. Experts warn weight loss jabs can increase a patient's risk of dehydration, which as a consequence can reduce saliva production in the mouth. This in turn can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, as saliva plays a vital role in washing away food particles and neutralizing acids produced by bacteria. The loss of her teeth wasn't the only negative side effect Ms Lancaster Colquhoun claims to have experienced from taking Mounjaro. She also said that as she slimmed down she was left with large quantities of excess skin, she compared her stomach to 'a bulldog's face'. Mounjaro is the brand name for tirzepatide, a weight loss injection which works by suppressing your appetite, making you feel fuller for longer. Ms Lancaster Colquhoun, originally from Texas in the US, said she was prescribed the drug after battling with her weight for years. She weighed more than 18 stone at her heaviest, wearing size 22 clothes, which left her in fear of being stared at or judged even at celebratory occasions like her sister's wedding. 'While everyone was getting their glam done, I was helping set up because, at that point, my looks didn't matter,' she said. She also recalled being cruelly shamed on social media by total strangers. 'Once, I got a call from my niece saying someone took a photo of me at our local grocery store and captioned it, "Whales shouldn't be put in clothes",' she said. Eventually the mental toll of fearing judgement over her weight left her afraid to leave the house. Despite trying to lose weight by going to the gym, consulting with a dietitian, and other weight loss medications, she had little to no success. It was only after she was rushed to hospital with 'dangerously high' blood sugar levels and was diagnosed with diabetes, that her doctor suggested Mounjaro. Ms Lancaster Colquhoun described the positive effects of the Mounjaro jab which she was prescribed by private provider as 'life changing'. She also shared she 'never felt more beautiful' when she got married to her now husband Dean Colquhoun on April 17, 2024. Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Mounjaro responding to Ms Lancaster Colquhoun's story, said: 'Patient safety is Lilly's top priority, and we take any reports regarding patient safety extremely seriously. 'Regulatory agencies conduct extensive independent assessments of the benefits and risks of every new medicine. 'Lilly is committed to continually monitoring, evaluating, and reporting safety data to ensure the latest information is available for regulators and prescribers.' To ensure you are getting 'genuine Lilly medicine' they advised patients consult their doctor or other health care professionals about any side effects.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
I was horrified by how I looked at my sister's wedding - so I used weight loss jabs to lose 9 stone for my own big day - there were some grim side effects but it was worth it
A mother who was 'horrified' after seeing how she looked at her sister's wedding has called Mounjaro a 'lifeline' after losing 9st using the skinny jab. Hope Lancaster Colquhoun, who is originally from Texas but now lives in Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, says her relationship with food had always been a challenge. She'd often overindulge in sweets, crisps and chocolate as part of a reward, or whenever feeling low, with no limits. At her heaviest, she weighed 18st 8lbs. Hope's turning point came after seeing the snaps from her sister's wedding where she was a bridesmaid, leaving her 'horrified'. The 42-year-old knew something needed to change, especially when she was rushed to hospital as her body had started to shut down due to the pressure of her weight. She was prescribed Mounjaro, an injection used to treat diabetes and help with weight loss - and has lost a staggering nine stone in just over two years. 'On my sister's wedding day, I felt defeated,' the content creator said. 'While everyone was getting their glam done, I was helping set up because at that point, my looks didn't matter. 'I was just the "bigger one" in the background. 'I dreaded walking down the aisle, as I knew people would look at me and judge how heavy I was. 'I've always been made fun of. 'Once, I got a call from my niece saying someone took a photo of me at our local grocery store and captioned it: "Whales shouldn't be put in clothes". 'Even to this day, I struggle wearing shorts in public out of fear my photo might get taken again. 'People have nicknamed me "marshmallow". 'It's been isolating and made me deeply self-conscious. 'I didn't leave the house except for groceries or to pick up my kids from school. 'Scrolling on social media or watching TV became quite tough. 'There was a constant reminder that I should be thin. 'If I wanted to be accepted, or partake in certain trends, I had to lose weight. 'I was a complete shell of myself, with no social life, happiness or motivation. 'Not only that, my health was suffering, too.' Hope used to have McDonald's for breakfast, followed by leftovers from the night before for lunch and carbohydrate-heavy dinners, such as pasta and chips. She had tried to lose weight naturally, including going to the gym, having consultations with a dietitian and using other weight loss medications. Unfortunately, this had little-to-no success. After months of unexplained illness and frequent fainting episodes, she was rushed to hospital as her blood sugar levels were 'dangerously high'. Hope was diagnosed with diabetes and prescribed Mounjaro by Oushk Pharmacy for £189 a month to help manage this. And the effects were 'life-changing'. She said: 'The weight just slipped off me. 'Not only that, my blood sugar levels improved and I felt like a totally new person. 'I couldn't believe it. 'It was like I had found the answer I'd been searching for my whole life.' Hope switched up her diet to include lots of fruit and vegetables, as well as healthy protein such as lean chicken – and at least five litres of water. She joined a gym and used to chase her sister's spider monkeys around the house. She said: 'I found myself craving healthier foods, drinking more water and just overall more active. 'Within a month, I noticed I wasn't feeling so depressed either. 'I reversed any health issues and was able to come off my medication as I didn't need it anymore. 'My diabetes is now excellently controlled – and considering I was on the brink of death with it, I'm pretty proud of myself.' While Hope suffered some minor side effects, such as regular burping, diarrhoea and headaches, the positive outcome was all worth it. She's now gone from a UK dress size 22 to an eight. Hope tied the knot on April 17, 2024 and says she had 'never felt more beautiful'. She added: 'I've completely got my life and confidence back. 'My family are completely overjoyed by my transformation. 'They've watched me struggle for years, but now they're so proud of the person I've become. 'People have said I'm cheating or commenting that I've lost too much weight. But none of them told me to stop eating when I was slowly killing myself being obese. 'During the weight loss, at one point, I compared my stomach to a bull dog's face [due to the excess skin]. 'But over time, my skin has shrunk. I've also lost seven of my teeth, with four needing fillings, so I've been given a partial denture. 'I never had an issue with my dental health before; though doctors think it's just because I've lost so much weight in such a short frame of time. 'I'd encourage people to consider the jab because of how life-changing it's been for me. Even my sister and mum both take it now. 'Weight loss journeys are hard and all of our stories are different. 'This isn't the easy way out, as some might say, as we still have to make healthy food choices, stay active and prioritise our health. 'For those of us with multiple conditions, such as myself, it's been a lifeline. 'I credit Mounjaro for giving me another chance at life.'
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Durham Court demolition branded 'appalling mistake'
Concerns have been raised over plans to demolish a tower block and rehouse its elderly Tyneside Council's Labour cabinet recently unanimously agreed plans to rehouse the residents of Durham Court in Hebburn and to demolish the 18-storey block dates back to 1974 and currently has 96 people living there, the majority aged over councillors from the South Tyneside Alliance Group have criticised the move, describing it as "a staggering waste of public money". Councillor Andrew Guy, a representative for the opposition group, called the move an "appalling mistake", and also raised concerns about the tower being a "substantial customer" for the Hebburn Energy heating facility cost the council £11.9m, of which £4.8m came from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), according to the Local Democracy Reporting added: "This 18-storey tower block will be flattened, in the process wiping out the main reason the £11.9m Hebburn Energy Centre was built." The opposition group and independent councillors said they requested the decision to be "called in" and referred to a scrutiny council chiefs said they had not "received a valid request for call-in" – a ruling which Guy said the group would be "formally challenging".The local authority added a valid call-in request must come no later than 12:00 on the fifth working day after publication of the minutes – which in this case falls on 2 Carter, deputy council leader, previously said it was "by no means a conclusion we have reached lightly" to demolish Durham highlighted how the building would require £12m of investment to modernise and keep at a decent standard – which would have meant "significant disruption to the tenants without any guarantees about the long-term sustainability of the block".In response to concerns around the Hebburn Energy Centre, a council spokesperson said a new children's home would be connected to the renewable energy network, which would "mitigate a proportion of the lost carbon savings".The local authority added rehousing residents and the demolition process was likely to take about three to four years to complete. Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Hebburn flats to be demolished leaving Durham Court residents angry
Nearly 100 people living in a high-rise block of flats have been told their homes will be Tyneside Council's cabinet gave the go-ahead for Durham Court in Hebburn to be taken down, at a meeting on said the 1974-built block had outlived its "original intended lifespan" of 50 years and the estimated £12m needed to repair it was not living there - many of them elderly tenants - now face the upheaval of being rehomed over a possible five-year period. A number of those living in the building - which is seen as a landmark in the town - described the tower block as a "thriving community" of people "who all look after each other".Resident Peter Douglass said: "I know if I need any help it's right there in this building."That's a community and they're destroying it in one fell swoop."Widow Emily Rice, 94, who is partially-sighted, added: "My husband died and I've got no family - this was to be my last home, but the council in its wisdom has decided to turf me out." The Labour-led local authority has offered tenants reassurances that it will find new homes for them in Hebburn and they will not have to leave the leader Tracey Dixon said: "We will ensure right from the very beginning that the tenants that live in Durham Court will be given the homes of their choice."It's all about giving them priority, so if they want to continue living in Hebburn then they can." She added: "We know Durham Court is their family home, so we're here to support them and make sure they lead healthy and happy lives." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
