Labour hold Dunston and Teams in by-election contest

Labour have held the Dunston and Teams seat in the by-election held on Thursday 28th September. The new councillor is Pauline Dillon.

Liberal Democrat candidate Michael Ruddy came second, improving his share of the vote by 4%.

But it was a disappointing night for the fringe British National Party (BNP) who threw everything into the campaing. They turned up at the count hopeful of causing an upset. In the end they simply came in third.

Photo: Lib Dem candidate Michael Ruddy and agent Charles Jevon congratulate winning Labour candidate Pauline Dillon at the count for the Dunston and Teams by-election. Unhappy looking Conservative and BNP candidates are on the left and right respectively.

The Conservatives barely registered on the voters' radar screen, scoring only 6%, down 3% on the May elections.

Whickham Street Surgery

Following the recent very successful street surgery on Oakfield Road and due to popular demand, Lib Dem Councillors representing the Grange Estate in Whickham will be holding a follow up session on Saturday 16th September. It will take place between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. outside the shops in the middle of Oakfield Road.

Update on Off license application for Oakfield Road, Whickham

Many residents have contacted your local councillors to ask what is the process for making an objection following the application to set up an off license at the fireplace shop on Oakfield Road, Whickham. The objection should be made on a form which can be obtained from: Trading Standards and Licensing, Development and Enterprise, Gateshead Council, Civic Centre, Regent Street, Gateshead, NE8 1HH.

All objections must be based on some or all of the following grounds which are listed in the form:
The prevention of crime an disorder
Public safety
The prevention of public nuisance
The protection of children from harm

The last date that objections will be received for this particular application is Tuesday 19th September.

Normally, residents who object will have an opportunity to speak at the hearing should they wish to. However, this depends the number of people who wish to speak. A provisional date for the hearing has been set for he morning of Thursday 12th October, although of course this may change.

Whickham and Rowlands Gill win gardening awards

Whickham has won the Best Large Town award in the 2006 Northumbria in Bloom competition. The announcement was made at the awards ceremony held in Alnwick Gardens on Monday 11th September. And Rowlands Gill won a medal for Best Urban Community.

Congratulations to everyone involved.

Whickham Car Parking Survey

LIBERAL Democrat councillors representing Whickham North have carried out a survey of residents of the Grange Estate about plans by Gateshead Council to introduce charges for parking in Whickham Village’s car parks.

Councillors Chris Ord, Mary Wallace and Peter Craig asked residents of the Grange Estate, most of which comes within their ward, about the planned charges so they could get a bigger picture of the possible impact on Whickham.

“We are concerned about the loss of business,” said Councillor Chris Ord. “The nearby Metrocentre has free parking and there is a danger that many people will shop there instead of in Whickham.

“Whilst parking charges have a role to play, the council should take into account the impact as well.”

Responses to the survey are being studied by local councillors and residents are urged to send in their views if they have not yet replied.

Bus survey reveals residents’ concerns

RESIDENTS of the village of Sunniside, in western Gateshead, are worried they will be cut off from local facilities following the decision to scrap an important bus service.

The 645 was withdrawn from service on 3rd September. Before then it was one of the main bus services to the Sunniside estate.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Jonathan Wallace carried out a survey of residents to find out the impact of the ending of the bus service.

“Many residents have told us they will experience difficulties getting to the shops and post office on the Sunniside Front Street area,” said Jonathan. “They will also find it harder to get to the doctors’ surgery in Whickham and to Dunston for the swimming pool and activity centre.”

The survey is still being carried out by Councillor Wallace, who represents the area on Gateshead Council and it should be completed by Sunday 10th September.

His colleague Councillor Yvonne McNicol is also carrying out the survey in her Dunston Hill and Whickham East ward as the 645 was a main bus service in that area as well.

Lib Dems choose by-election candidate

Liberal Democrats in Gateshead have chosen Michael Ruddy as their candidate for the Dunston and Teams ward by-election which is to be held on Thursday 28th September.

Michael lives on the Race Course Estate at the bottom of Bensham Bank, in the Teams area of Gateshead.

“I am very pleased to have been chosen to stand for Dunston and Teams,” said Michael, who is a taxi driver. “We will be running a strong campaign in the ward.

Michael’s main campaign is to save Post Offices from closure following the decision by the Labour government to scrap the Post Office Card Account, used by pensioners to get their state pension through Post Office branches.

There are widespread fears that the loss of business caused by the decision will force many branches to close down.

Photo: Michael Ruddy, Lib Dem candidate for Dunston and Teams


Published and promoted by Charles Jevon, on behalf of Michael Ruddy, all at 18 The Cedars, Eighton Banks Gatehead NE9 7BW

800 call for Post Office action in Winlaton and High Spen

LIBERAL Democrat councillors in Winlaton and High Spen ward of Gateshead have collected 800 signatures on their petition calling for the Post Office Card Account and Post Office branches to be saved from the axe.

Councillors Brenda Osborne and Andrew Graham collected the signatures during August.

They launched the petition with colleagues from across Gateshead after the government announced that the Post Office Card Account is to be scrapped. The account is used by 5 million pensioners to collect their state pensions through Post Office branches.

Many branches are dependent on the payment they receive for handling pensioners’ cash and the business they bring to remain open. There are fears that many will close as a result.

“There has been a great deal of interest in the petition from residents,” said Brenda. “People have been very willing to sign. We have recorded 800 signatures so far but we also have a large pile of petition replies which we have not yet sorted.

“So we are expecting the figure of 800 to increase further.”