Changes to bin collection dates

Normal bin collection dates will be affected by Chistmas and New Year over the coming weeks. You can check when your waste and recycling bins are due to be collected on this link.

Vicky battling for victory in Blaydon

Liberal Democrats in Blaydon constituency have chosen Vicky Anderson as their candidate for the snap general election on 12^th December.

Vicky is relishing the battle ahead as she takes on Labour in the constituency they have held since 1935. She has already tasted victory against Labour, having won her council seat from them in May.

“As a councillor in Blaydon constituency and a campaigner with first hand experience of beating Labour, I am taking the battle to the heart of their territory,” said Vicky.

“Labour takes our area for granted but it is time for a change. If elected I will be the voice of Blaydon residents in Parliament. I will be an MP who is in touch with the people of the area. I will demand better for the North East.”

Vicky was born and brought up in the North East and is a passionate advocate of the region which she feels has been let down by both Labour and Conservatives. She is also a strong advocate of equality issues and diversity.

“The North East has not gained from the near monolithic dominance by Labour. We are a diverse society and I am determined that the MPs of the region should also be from diverse backgrounds, both politically and socially. That’s why I am campaigning to put an end to Labour’s monopoly of North East Parliamentary representation.”

Vicky works in online events and has a background in customer service and technology.

Peter chosen as Lib Dem candidate in Gateshead

Peter chosen as Lib Dem candidate in Gateshead

Liberal Democrats in Gateshead constituency have chosen Peter Maughan as their candidate for the snap general election on 12^th December.

Peter has considerable experience of representing residents of the borough where he has been a councillor for the past 25 years.

He is also a solicitor, giving him invaluable experience of helping people, a skill he wants to use to fight for a better deal for Gateshead and the North East.

“Labour believe they have an automatic right to rule here but I will be taking the fight right to Labour’s door,” said Peter.

“As a councillor in Gateshead for the past 25 years, I understand the needs, hopes and aspirations of local residents. I also know from talking to people on doorsteps that they are fed up with Labour and Jeremy Corbyn and are looking for a new political home.

“I am fighting hard to bring ex-Labour voters over to the Liberal Democrats.”

Outside of politics and work, Peter is a strong advocate of animal welfare. He is chairman of Newcastle upon Tyne and North Northumberland branch of the RSPCA. Many rescue animals have found a home at his house in Whickham.

Peter is also a board member of the Newcastle United Supporters’ Trust.

Whickham area Remembrance Services

There will be four Remembrance services in the Whickham area tomorrow. Details are as follows:

Whickham

Groups and wreath layers who are taking part in the Whickham Remembrance Parade should assemble in The Square at 10:15 am. The parade will be formed up on Front Street from 10:20 am and will move off at 10:35 am, arriving at Whickham cenotaph at 10:45 am for a wreath-laying ceremony, followed by a Service in St Mary’s Church. 

Front Street from Rectory Lane to Fellside Road will be closed to accommodate the parade from around 10:15 am until approximately 10:45 am. Front Street between Rectory Lane and Broom Lane will be closed from approximately 10:30 am until 11:30 am. 

Dunston

There will be a service at St Nicholas Church at 10am. Wreath laying takes place at 11am at the Dunston War Memorial.

Swalwell

There will be a service at Holy Trinity Church on Hexham Old Road at 9am followed by wreath laying service at 10am.

Marley Hill

Assemble at St Cuthbert's Church, Marley Hill, at 10.15am for an act of remembrance and wreath laying.

Lib Dems call for "bus tax" to be axed

Plans by Labour to slap a £50-a-day charge on buses using central Newcastle could result in fewer services in Gateshead. And this in turn could lead to more cars on local roads, higher fares, more congestion and more pollution, warn local Liberal Democrats.

The bus tax is part of revised plans put forward by Labour-run Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside Councils after initial proposals earlier this year to charge nearly every vehicle to drive across bridges over the Tyne to tackle air pollution were widely slammed as unworkable.

The new plans being put out to consultation include charging older buses £50 a day to drive in central Newcastle, though it would not apply to new, clean buses. Lorries and vans will also have to pay. Charging cars to enter central Newcastle is not proposed yet, but there will be an option to do so in the future.

Lib Dem Councillor for Low Fell, Daniel Duggan, said "The proposal to charge buses could lead to fewer services for residents. Labour say they want more people using buses, but this will have the opposite effect.”

Lib Dem Councillor Ron Beadle said “These plans will lead to higher fares and more people travelling by car. This will mean more, not less, congestion".

To give your views on the latest consultation visit here

Kells Lane drain unblocked

Residents raised with Low Fell Lib Dem councillors the issue of blocked drains where Kells Lane meets the bottom of Dean Street. This was causing problems with flooding here when it rained. 

"After we raised it with the Council, we are pleased to see the drains here have now been cleaned out," said Cllr Danial Duggan. "There is, however, a gully, along part of Kells Lane, that still needs cleaning and we are pressing the Council to do this."

Supporting the Little Theatre

Low Fell Lib Dem Councillors Daniel Duggan and Ron Beadle recently attended an awareness evening hosted by the Little Theatre, near Saltwell Park (see photo above).

The Little Theatre are planning to build a new rehersal space which will greatly enhance the theatre facilities for the Progressive Players, visiting drama groups, and the local community. It will provide space for a youth group so budding actors and actresses can practice. They have secured some funding, but if you are able to help further with their fundraising efforts please contact them.

Councillor Ron Beadle said "It was a great evening learning about the Little Theatre's history, the great plays they have put on, and their exciting plans for the future. The Little Theatre is a real gem in our community. If you can support them in anyway please do let them know."

Concerned about crime in Low Fell?

Low Fell's Councillors will be holding a joint advice surgery with Northumbria Police on Tuesday, 15th October at Kells Lane Primary School from 6pm to 7pm. If you would like to speak to a police officer on a one on one basis please drop by.

Councillor Susan Craig said, "Low Fell is a great place and it's important that any anti-social or criminal activity is dealt with. If you have concerns please do come along and speak to the police."

New bus stop for Kells Lane

Nexus have agreed to provide a new bus stop outside Pimlico Court on Kells Lane, Low Fell.

Local Lib Dem Councillor Daniel Duggan said, “Residents contacted us about how far the nearest bus stop was from Pimlico Court.  This was particularly difficult for people carrying heavy shopping back home. Hopefully, a new bus stop will help improve this situation for residents.”

Pictured: Daniel on Kells Lane, outside Pimlico Court, where the new bus stop is to be located

Supporting St Peter's Choir

Low Fell's Councillors have donated £500 from the Local Community Fund to the Friends of St Peter's in order to support their fundraising efforts so that St Peter's RC Primary School choir can perform in the Music for Youth Festival Proms at the Royal Albert Hall.

Low Fell Councillor Daniel Duggan said "I and my colleagues, Ron and Susan, are delighted to be able to support this. It will be a wonderful opportunity for the children to perform at the Royal Albert Hall and we wish all those involved the very best of luck".

“Johnson unfit to be PM” - Jonathan Wallace

Responding to the news from the Supreme Court that the Government acted illegally over the prorogation of Parliament, Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition in Gateshead and Parliamentary Candidate for Blaydon, Jonathan Wallace, said:

“Boris Johnson has demonstrated that he is not fit to be Prime Minister. He acted illegally in proroguing Parliament and although his behaviour has been astonishing, his coup has failed. He has become a national embarrassment and should now consider his future.

“Parliament must now sit again and hold the government to account.”

Lib Dems walk out in protest as “Labour brings Council into disrepute"

Liberal Democrat Councillors have today twice walked out of the full council meeting in Gateshead in protest at motions moved by Labour that they believe bring the Council into disrepute.

The first motion by Labour demands that the Council endorses the party political election campaign of their Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate Kim McGuinness who won the Northumbria by-election in July.

The Labour motion claims:

“We believe that Kim McGuinness brought forward a detailed and clear vision for how

policing needs to change, that she ran a professional and high-minded campaign for

office and proved herself an articulate campaigner.”

The motion goes on to call on council officers to “write to the Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner to ask her to require the police to record misogyny as a hate crime in their day-to-day activities”.

Liberal Democrats point out that PCCs are not allowed, by law, to intervene in day-to-day policing and operational matters and therefore the motion calls on her to do something which she is not permitted to do.

The second Labour motion calls on the Council to back a Labour Party policy and campaign on Standard Attainment Tests in schools. Again, Liberal Democrats argue that the Council should not be drawn into endorsing party political campaigns.

Cllr Ron Beadle, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Liberal Democrat group, said, “It is not the role of any public body to endorse the election campaign of any party political candidate.

“We believe this to be a wholly inappropriate use of the Council and public resources. I know of no other council or public body that has endorsed the campaign of a party political candidate who stood in a public election.

“Liberal Democrats in Gateshead cannot and will not lend legitimacy to these two motions which should have been ruled out of order by the Mayor. For that reason, we left the council chamber rather than assist Labour in potentially bringing the authority into disrepute.”

Teddy bears picnic in Sunniside

There will be a teddy bears picnic and table top sale at the Whinnies Community Garden in Sunniside on Saturday 14th September from 1pm-4pm. Bring the children along with their favourite teddy. There will be a prize for the best dressed teddy.

There are still spaces available for anyone who wants to come along to sell their goods and there will also be stalls selling homemade jams, plants, fresh vegetables from the garden, raffle and tombola. There will also be games for the children and face painting. Local face painter Gaile Clark will be having all of her hair shaved off at 2pm to raise funds for prostate cancer so please come along to cheer her on.

Plans submitted for derelict school site

Councillors Peter Maughan and Kevin McClurey outside the derelict Dunston Hill School. They have called for the old buildings to be demolished as part of planning permission for the site.

The long awaited plans for housing on the derelict Dunston Hill Primary School site have now been submitted to Gateshead Council. They include proposals for 26 new houses and part of the site, where the main school buildings currently stand, will be allocated for the FACT cancer care centre.

The application itself will only consider the new houses. A further application will be required for the cancer facility.

The application has been welcomed by Lib Dem Councillors Kevin McClurey and Peter Maughan who have campaigned to have the decade long derelict site used for housing.

"Our chief concern is that as the house building will be on the part of the site that is not currently occupied by the main school building, full demolition before any other work takes place should be a condition for receiving planning permission," said Kevin.

Mayor reopens vandal hit bowling pavilion in Marley Hill

A year ago, the pavilion at Marley Hill Bowling Green suffered an arson attack. Considerable smoke damage meant the building could not be used for months. But club members were not going to let this setback undermine the club.

Instead, they carried out a programme of repair and renovation and the restored pavilion was officially reopened by the Mayor of Gateshead, Cllr Michael Hood, on Friday 6th September.

The club have also taken out a lease on the bowling green and pavilion, taking over the maintenance of the facility from the council. The new arrangement has allowed the club to apply for grant funding from charities which it previously could not receive under the umbrella of Gateshead Council.

"It is great to see the club in Marley Hill growing successfully," said Cllr John McClurey. "Members are making a great success of the facility by taking over the job of maintaining the green. They are now a model for other clubs to follow."

Anyone interested in playing bowls at Marley Hill or joining the club can contact the secretary, Alan Thompson, on acthompson@hotmail.co.uk.

Apartments plan for Whickham Social Club approved

Plans to demolish the former Whickham Social Club on School Lane, Whickham and build 13 apartments on the site have been approved by Gateshead's planning committee.

The apartments will be designed to accommodate households in which a family member uses a wheelchair.

Local Lib Dem Councillor Sonya Hawkins said, "I am pleased this application has been approved. Many of us will remember attending functions in the social club but, sadly, the building has been closed since 2016 and was becoming derelict.

"The new housing will address the need to provide wheelchair accessible homes of which we have a shortage in the area."

Dunston House Building plans rejected

A planning application to build up to ten houses on the former tennis court area to the rear of Monkridge Gardens in Dunston has been rejected. A large number of residents contacted local Lib Dem councillors to express concerns about these plans and the impact that they would have on neighbouring properties.

The application was heard by the Council’s planning committee on Wednesday 4th September. Cllr Kevin McClurey spoke on behalf of those residents who opposed the plans.

"The  applicant  does  have  a  right  of  appeal  against  this  decision,  and  your  local councillors will let residents know if there are any further updates on this case," said Kevin.

Photo above: Cllr Peter Maughan at the entrance to the former tennis courts behind Monkridge. Along with Cllr Kevin McClurey, he helped residents fight the plans for up to 10 houses on the site.