Watergate car park back in use

Gateshead Council has reopened the car park at Watergate Park on Whickham Highway, following the Government's partial relaxation of the lockdown rules to allow people to drive to places for exercise and to allow people to exercise for longer.

But there are concerns about mixed messages coming from the council with Gateshead's Leader Martin Gannon saying he believes the relaxation of the rules should not go ahead in the borough because the rate of infection here is higher than most of the rest of the country. Cllr Gannon said, "Gateshead Council will put the health and safety of our resident first. Our advice remains, 'stay at home'”.

Local Focus Team member for Lobley Hill, Jonathan Mohammed, said, "I am concerned that the opening of the car park could cause a surge of people to visit the area. While in normal times I am delighted to have people visit our area, I am concerned that the opening of the car park could be premature.

"Cllr Gannon rightly raised concerns that the relaxation of the lockdown may be appropriate for areas of the country where the infection rate is low. He was also right to argue that in Gateshead, lockdown measures need to remain in place until our area has a rate similar to areas with the lowest.

"Opening up Watergate car park while telling people to stay at home are contradictory and confusing. Gateshead Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Jonathan Wallace, has raised this with Cllr Gannon.

"In the meantime, we encourage everyone using Watergate Park to adhere to social distancing rules."

Photo above - taken in February before the lockdown - Jonathan Mohammed in the car park of Watergate Park, Lobley Hill. He is calling for those using the park to beware of an influx of visitors now the car park has reopened.

Whinnies Community Garden reopens

The Whinnies Community Garden, behind the Simply Local Store on Gateshead Road, Sunniside, is reopening from Monday 18th May. Opening hours will be 1-3pm, Monday to Saturday. Strict social distancing rules will be in place and a "one-way" system to minimise contact will be in operation.

The cafe will not be open but plants and produce, including locally produced eggs, will be on sale. Residents are strongly encouraged to walk to the garden rather than drive and if there is a queue to enter, social distancing will be applied. If necessary, you will be encouraged to come back on a different day.

A pop up shop in the Garden's car park on 9th May was a great success and raised over £700 for the Whinnies. Organisers would like to thank all those who attended, especially for their keeping to the social distancing rules when the queue snaked around the car park and out into the access lane!

Residents attending the Whinnies Garden pop up shop earlier this month stuck to social distancing while in the queue.

Theft wrecks plans for restored loco at Tanfield Railway

On April 28th the Tanfield Railway were targeted by thieves who have stolen around £20,000 worth of materials, most of which were for the Horden steam locomotive which was only weeks away from completion of its restoration before lockdown.

This theft has not only put back this historic restoration but left the Tanfield Railway and their dedicated volunteers, who have spent thousands of hours restoring Horden, feeling dispirited and devastated during an already difficult situation.

Before the lockdown, Horden was only weeks away from hauling trains for the first time since 1972.

The incident is currently being investigated by the Police. Anyone being offered copper piping and brass as cut up scrap, or anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area, is asked to contact Northumbria Police quoting incident log 300 280420.

Huge fire as Dunston Staiths damaged by arsonists again

In the early hours of Saturday 16th May, mindless arsonists struck again at the Dunston Staiths. Sadly, it is not the first time that the historic structure has been attacked but weather conditions this time meant the fire damage was much worse, despite the best efforts of the fire service to control the flames.

The Staiths were built at the end of the Victorian period to export coal from the Durham Coalfield. It is the largest single wooden structure in Europe. In 1990 it took pride of place as one of the key features of the Gateshead National Garden Festival and in more recent years it has hosted the regular Staiths Food Market.

Dunston Councillor Peter Maughan said, "I was born and raised in Dunston and I know the Staiths will always be fondly regarded by residents as an important part of our landscape.

"Our heritage belongs to all of us and those who seek to destroy it are attacking all of us.

"This is a difficult site to secure from attack because of its size and access. Nevertheless, given there was an arson attack in February 2019 as well, serious consideration needs to be given to how security can be improved."

Anyone with information that could help police track down those responsible should contact PCSO Janowicz on 07736 194422 quoting police incident log 107 May 16th 2020.

Photo courtesy of Andy Smith.

Bulk waste collection and grass cutting restart

Two important council services suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic are now restarting. Bulk waste collections from households and grass cutting are restarting.

If you have bulk waste which you are unable to take to the newly reopened municipal waste sites, you can now book the council to collect it. Bookings can be made online on this link.

The service will be busy catching up on the last few weeks when no service was in operation but the council reports that a small number of slots are available this week. Otherwise, please be patient and book slots over the next few weeks.

Cllr Marilynn Ord said, "Grass cutting has already restarted but there is a 6 week backlog so, again, please be patient while the council's grass cutting team works its way across the borough."