Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Bleach Green Housing Plans
Swalwell hotfood takeaway refused
Rowlands Gill basement to flat plan
Ryton area house building planning applications
A planning application has been submitted to Gateshead Council to change the shop at 3 Elvaston Road, Ryton, into a flat.
Crawcrook house application
An application is being made to build a detached house on land to the rear of Oakworth House, Greenside Road, Crawcrook.
Ryton housing application
Planning permission is being sought to build 4 semi-detached houses at Beechgrove on Beechwood Avenue, Ryton.
Folly housing plan
Planning permission is being sought for two houses to be built on land to the rear of the Rose and Crown House, Lead Road, Folly, near Ryton.
Bensham apartments plan
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Primary Schools to close
But Councillors have been told that the final decision will be taken by the ‘cabinet’ of 11 Labour Councillors – with no opposition councillors allowed to vote, and even the councillors from the affected communities might be excluded.
Policies brought in by Gateshead’s own Labour councillors means that most Councillors may not be allowed to vote on these key decisions.
Liberal Democrats want this situation reversed, and have called on the Cabinet to let the whole Council make the decision.
Lib Dem campaigner Susan Craig said, "Small schools can work well and young children shouldn’t be forced to travel long distances and across very busy roads in order to get to school. It is a real disgrace if Labour aren’t even prepared to put their plans to the whole Council."
Labour says “no” to letting residents decide future of homes
Leading the call for people power were Lib Dem Action Team members Norman Spours and Susan Craig.
"Now that proposals have been developed for demolition and new house building, it makes sense to ask residents to make clear their views on the package of proposals," said Susan.
"We therefore called for a referendum in the affected areas, but Labour councillors voted this down and said local residents should not be allowed to have the final say about what happens in their own streets".
How the Lib Dem plans will work:
All residents in the affected area will be entitled to a vote
Results to be counted and reported for predefined zones made up of several adjacent blocks grouped by the type of action proposed (eg demolition, renovation)
Where the majority of respondents in a "zone" are opposed to the proposals, there should be further consultation in that zone with a view to finding a more acceptable package of proposals.
Pensioners' £200 rebate removed
The rebate was brought in during the run up to the general election last year. But in the budget in March, Chancellor Gordon Brown has scrapped it for future years.
"Clearly the rebate was an election bribe all along," said Councillor Robin Stanaway from Pelaw and Heworth ward.
"The council tax is the most unfair and most unpopular tax in the country. It is a far bigger burden on pensioners and those on low and middle incomes than it is for the rich. "Liberal Democrats will replace council tax with a fairer system based on ability to pay."
Security camera demand for Fewster Square
LIBERAL Democrats in the Wardley area are calling for crime busting security cameras - CCTV - to be introduced in Fewster Square. Local campaigner Paul Diston is leading the call for better security in the shopping precinct.
"Gateshead’s Labour Council have neglected Fewster Square," said Paul. "It is an important shopping area for people in Leam Lane, Felling and Wardley, but it badly needs new investment.
"Putting in CCTV will encourage more people to use the centre, and help encourage local businesses to invest in their properties."
Security experts belive that used properly, CCTV can make a big difference to levels of crime and anti-social behaviour, and help local people feel safer.
"CCTV is used widely in the town centre and some other parts of Gateshead," Paul explained. "But Labour’s Council Leaders in Gateshead have rejected Liberal Democrat demands for a proper plan to decide how CCTV can best be introduced across the whole area."
Photo: Paul Diston in Fewster Square where he is campaigning for crime busting security cameras.
Gateshead Council axes Lobley Hill Library
Lib Dem Councillor Allison Chatto said, "I am very disappointed the Council has taken this decision. Many people use the library and its loss will be felt by many.
Lobley Hill Lib Dem campaigner Susan Craig said, "Labour’s behaviour has been questionable over the Library.
"They posed as the champion of local library provision, then blamed council officers to the proposals to close the library, then voted through the closure against the wishes of local residents"
Stella South update
Site preparation is now underway and houses will be built over a period of five years. Plans will be displayed before building starts for residents to have a look at.
Crawcrook Park update
"We are working with the officers and with Streetlights to push forward the search for funding to renovate the park," said Councillor Sally Danys. "The park is a very important asset to the village and we are looking forward to when renovation work has been carried out.
Meanwhile, local Lib Dem councillors are reporting that, after a request from the Bowling Club, work on the Pavilion’s toilets will be carried out during the current financial year.
At Follyplayground, new toddlers’ play equipment is to be installed in May. At the same time, Cooksfield playground equipment will be improved.
Disappointing response to call to save Post Offices
A CALL for action to save Post Offices from closure has been “lost in the post” claim Liberal Democrat Councillors in Gateshead.
The government plans to stop paying pensions through Post Offices and many people fear that this will lead to thousands of branches closing down.
But a Liberal Democrat motion to Gateshead Council calling on the government to keep the current system of payment of pensions through the Post Office card account failed to win the backing of Labour councillors when it was debated at a meeting on Thursday 23rd March.
Instead, Labour councillors threw out the Lib Dem call for action.
“Far from backing post offices,” said Lib Dem Councillor, Jonathan Wallace, who moved the motion, “Labour scrapped our call to save Post Offices.
“They replaced it with an ineffectual statement noting that some MPs had signed an ineffectual Parliamentary motion.
“And when I summed up at the end of the debate, I had to endure constant heckling and interruptions led by the Labour Council leader. It was clear to me that Labour’s commitment to keeping Post Offices open was lost in the post.”
Photo: Councillor Jonathan Wallace
Labour Gateshead costs you more – claim Lib Dems
2 years ago Newcastle residents paid more Council Tax than their neighbours in Gateshead. But following the loss by Labour of the City Council to the Lib Dems, residents of Newcastle they now pay £62.00 less.
While Labour Councillors in Gateshead have added £122 to Council Tax Bills, Newcastle’s Liberal Democrats have added just £55 - in line with inflation.
Peter Allen, Lib Dem Executive Councillor for Resources on Newcastle City Council said, ‘We have kept council tax rises down in Newcastle by relentlessly focusing on greater efficiency and effectiveness. We promised this when we were elected in 2004 and the Lib Dem administration is committed to delivering this into the future.’
Low Fell Lib Dem Councillor Councillor Ron Beadle said, “We have known for years that Labour costs people more. Now our colleagues in Newcastle have proven it. If Gateshead’s residents want lower council tax, they know which way to vote in May.”
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Council call to save Post Offices
LIBERAL Democrats on Gateshead Council are to move a motion calling on the government to scrap plans to end the Post Office card account.
The motion will be moved at the council meeting due to be held at 2.30pm on Thursday 23rd March.
The card account is used by nearly five million pensioners each week to collect their pensions through their local Post Office branch.
Now the government are to require pensioners to receive their state pensions through the big banks. And there are fears that the loss of business to the Post Office will see thousands of branches close.
“The card account has been very successful,” said Councillor Jonathan Wallace. “It has kept many Post Office branches afloat whilst making it easier for elderly people to collect their pension.
“With the loss of the fee Post Office branches are paid for handling the card accounts, and the loss of passing trade from many pensioners visiting the Post Office to collect their pension, many branches will simply close down.
“Many communities currently have Post Offices though there are fewer than there was three or four years ago. But many communities don’t have bank branches.
“For many residents that means using an expensive cash machine in a local shop, often at £1.50 a time. That’s a big chunk out of a pensioner’s income.
“There is no particular saving to the tax payer by ending card accounts as the big banks will be paid by the government to handle pensioners’ money instead.
“Some pensioners will face an added problem as many don’t have bank accounts. The banks themselves often refuse to take on people on low income as customers.
“Our motion calls on the government to reverse its decision, to keep the card account and to keep open Post Office branches.”
National pensioner bus plan too late for Tyne and Wear - Wallace
PLANS announced by Chancellor Gordon Brown for a national scheme for free bus travel for the elderly will be too late for Tyne and Wear, claims Blaydon Liberal Democrat Dr Jonathan Wallace.
Tyne and Wear are currently making £5.4 million of cuts to local bus services as a result of the failure of the government to pay the full costs of its decision to pay for free travel for pensioners within individual transport authority areas.
In the budget today, the government announced plans to introduce by 2008 a scheme for free off peak bus travel for pensioners to be run on a national basis. That will mean pensioners will not have to pay to travel if they cross a council boundary.
But with the scheme up to two years away, Tyne and Wear will have to make swingeing cuts in the meantime.
“The fact the government have changed their free bus travel scheme shows their current policy is a botched job,” said Dr Wallace, who is a councillor in Gateshead.
“Though we are yet to see the details, the fact the government will make this a national scheme, rather than the current local one, is a move in the right direction.
“It means elderly people will not be caught out when crossing local council boundaries. And it will mean the costs fall directly on the government rather than the council tax payer.
“But it is little comfort for the people of Tyne and Wear who face up to two years of cuts to bus services before we feel the benefit of the national scheme starting.”
'Where has all the money gone?' demand Lib Dems
Today, Gordon Brown delivered his tenth budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer. But with more and more people feeling let down by New Labour, the Liberal Democrats are asking where all the money has gone over the years Labour has been in power.
'Taxes and red tape have increased year on year but now hospitals are announcing cuts in nursing staff as they slip into debt. At the same time, businesses are having to spend more and more time on bureaucracy,' says Blaydon Lib Dem Jonathan Wallace.
"Unlike Labour and the Tories, the Liberal Democrat team in Parliament has won a reputation for putting honest choices before spin.
"The Lib Dems took the lead in exposing the tax credit fiasco and we are demanding urgent action to tackle the growing personal debt crisis. At the same time we are calling on the Government to deal with the major threats of climate change by taking effective action to protect our environment.
"The contrast between the principled approach of the Liberal Democrats under Sir Menzies Campbell and the Conservatives could not be greater. The Tories hope that by copying New Labour spin, we will all forget what a mess they made of running the economy the last time they were in power.
"Liberal Democrats want an economy that is stable and well managed and based on fairer, not higher, taxes and honest choices."
More information about Liberal Democrat policies on the economy and our response to the Budget can be found at www.libdems.org.uk/economy
Monday, March 20, 2006
Regional force a wrong step
The announcement that the government are to proceed with a merger of the three police forces in the region to create a single, regional force has been attacked by a leading North East Liberal Democrat.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke MP announced today (Monday 20th March) that the mergers will go ahead across the country, reducing the number of forces from 43 to 24.
Dr Jonathan Wallace, a Lib Dem councillor in Blaydon constituency on Tyneside, opposes the decision to impose a new structure from Whitehall.
"The size and shape of the police authority and police force should be a decision of local government here in the North East," said Dr Wallace. "Instead we are having a central government model imposed on us.
"I am concerned that the new force will be more remote from people and communities. It is vital therefore that the new police authority, which will run the merged police force, is not packed with central government appointees."
Call for Kells Lane Park security
Councillor Charles Jevon said, “We are backing requests from local residents for better security and upkeep at Kells Lane Park. The Police and Council have been asked to give it more attention and to deal with problems from groups gathering in the park in the evenings.”
Low Fell call for dog warden patrols
Councillor Ron Beadle contacted council officers after residents raised their concerns with him.
Ron said, “Some irresponsible owners are allowing dog fouling.
“We have had a number of complaints from parents and have asked the Council to take action, especially near schools.”