Local News

MP for Redcar, Anna Turley, has declared her ambitions for Teesside to host a hydrogen summit, in order to 'show politicians and industry our region is ready to lead';

A haunting mural has appeared on the wall where homeless man Michael Cash spent time before his death;

...and a plan to increase the amount of council spending kept within the borough has been approved by Cabinet.

MP for Redcar, Anna Turley, has declared her ambitions for Teesside to host a hydrogen summit, in order to 'show politicians and industry our region is ready to lead'.

The cross party hydrogen group in Parliament, established earlier this year to promote hydrogen as a future energy source, is working to hold a major one-day summit to bring together all the key voices in the hydrogen conversion debate.

As Chair of the group, Anna has written to Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen to ask him for the Tees Valley Combined Authority's support in hosting the event.

Teesside already produces half of the UK's supply of hydrogen for industrial purposes.

A haunting mural has appeared on the wall where homeless man Michael Cash spent time before his death.

The spray-painted image shows a sitting man, holding a sign which reads “Homeless, not hopeless”.

It is thought to be a touching tribute to Mr Cash who often sat by the wall at the back of The Shed micropub near Tesco Express in Normanby.

As reported, he was just 32 when his body was found at Eston Cemetery last week.

Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

However they are investigating an alleged assault in which Mr Cash was covered in red spray paint, three days before he died.

A plan to increase the amount of council spending kept within the borough has been approved by Cabinet.

The authority already had a strategy to ensure as much spending as possible is kept in Redcar and Cleveland.

However, councillors have now approved a plan to ensure more money is kept within the area.

A report to Cabinet explained that in 2017/18 a total of 23.5% of council spend was invested with suppliers based within the borough and 44% within the Tees Valley.

Proposals to increase those percentages include developing a new database of local suppliers, promoting a Forward Plan of contract opportunities to local businesses, and providing more active and tailored support to the borough’s enterprises.