Cleveland’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger, is inviting pensioners from across the Teesside area to discuss their community safety concerns with him over a cup of tea and a mince pie.

He will be discussing his plans for his next year in office and inviting comments from older residents to ensure their views are incorporated in his Police and Crime Plan. 

The event will be taking place between 10am and noon on Friday at police headquarters on Ladgate Lane, Middlesbrough. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Sarah Wilson on 01642-301446.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH: A free Christmas lunch with all the trimmings is being served to anyone who anyone who is alone on Christmas Day at the community hub on Union Street, Middlesbrough between 2pm and 3pm. It is being hosted by the Lifeline project, a UK led organisation involved with drug abuse, alcohol abuse, drug addiction and related disorders.

GUIDED WALK: People are invited to start the New Year by exploring countryside around Hartlepool with a bracing guided walk up to four miles and lasting between one and two hours. The first is set in Thorpe Thewles near Stockton, at 10.30am on Monday, January 6. Ramblers are asked to meet at the Thorpe Thewles Visitor Centre car park. For more information call 01429-284414 or email ryan.houghton@hartlepool.gov.uk

TRAFFIC FLOW: A 24-hour Incident Response Unit formed by Middlesbrough Council is predicted to reduce traffic management costs in the town by £45,000. The team will now provide incident response on the A172 link road and the six kilometre section of the A66 within the Middlesbrough boundary and will incorporate a daily inspection to identify emergency defects and carry out debris removal. The service was previously provided by a private contractor at an annual cost of £45,000 and the saving will contribute towards the authority’s wider budget reduction targets.

STOCKTON HISTORY: The next meeting of Long Newton History group is at 7pm on Wednesday, January 8, when the second part of an illustrated talk looking at Stockton at the turn of the century will be explored. Lynn Lamport’ sequel will feature digitised original glass slides by historian Michael Heavisides in the Wilson Centre, Long Newton near Stockton. Entry of £2 for non-members includes refreshments. For more details call 01642-651028.

SPEED LIMITS: Two new 20mph speed limit zones are to be introduced in Hartlepool, one covering the entire Headland and the other taking in Fenton Road, Lincoln Road, Ingham Grove and Wainfleet Road on the Fens Estate. Implementing the new speed limits will cost approximately £1,500, with the money coming from the Hartlepool Borough Council’s Local Transport budget allocation from the Government.

MARK THOMAS: Political activist and comedian, Mark Thomas, will be bringing his sell-out Edinburgh Festival Fringe show, 100 Acts of Minor Dissent, to Stockton’s Arc arts centre on Thursday, February 6, at 8pm. To buy tickets for the 16-plus gig costing £15 call the box office on 01642-525199 or email box.office@arconline.co.uk.