MP criticised for praising herself

A LEADING Liberal Democrat in Gateshead has criticised a Labour MP in the borough for writing and promoting a Parliamentary motion praising herself.

Dr Jonathan Wallace, Councillor for Whickham South and Sunniside, is calling on Sharon Hodgson MP to explain why she used the Parliamentary device of an Early Day Motion to welcome her own actions.

Motion 1386, proposed by Ms Hodgson, attacks the customer complaints procedure of no frills airline EasyJet. But is also includes the line: "welcomes efforts by the hon. Member for Gateshead East and Washington West to ensure that the rights of online consumers are incorporated in the Consumer, Estate Agents and Redress Bill."

Ms Hodgson is the Member for Gateshead East and Washington West!

“Whilst people have come to expect a degree of self-promotion from MPs, this one beats just about everything else I have seen,” said Councillor Wallace.

“Early Day Motions are a device for raising in Parliament issues of concern to MPs and their constituents. Sometimes they are used by MPs to promote and praise the work of local community groups and constituents.

“So it is rather surprising to find an MP using one to heap praise on herself.”

In December 2006, the Gateshead Labour Party adopted Dave Clelland as their candidate for the new Gateshead Constituency, leaving Ms Hodgson to search for a Parliamentary seat outside the borough.

A full copy of the motion can be found on: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33167&SESSION=885

Street lights to be repaired in Streetgate

Street lights on the main road leading up to the the village of Streetgate, near Sunniside, Gateshead, are to be repaired following concerns raised by the area’s Liberal Democrat Councillor, Jonathan Wallace.

The stretch of lights from Fugar Bar, next to Washingwell Woods, up to the village, have not been working for a number of weeks, leaving the entire stretch of road in the dark.

Councillor Wallace raised his concerns about the lights with officers who have now checked out the situation and have agreed to the repairs.

The road is the main Gateshead to Consett route and is used by thousands of drivers each day.

“I’m pleased the repairs are to be carried out and the lights on this main road will be back on again shortly,” said Councillor Wallace.

Skons Park Opencast Appeal Withdrawn

This is the video I shot for residents about the decision by Halls of Durham to withdraw their appeal over the refusal to grant planning permission for an opencast site at Skons Park next to Gibside.

Lib Dems survey on recycling

LIBERAL Democrats in Gateshead have extended a survey they are carrying out on recycling to the villages of Marley Hill and Byermoor and the Watergate Estate in Whickham.

The survey was launched following the decision by Labour run Gateshead Council to reject a call to set up kerbside collections of plastics and cardboard for recycling. The survey includes a petition calling for a collection scheme to be introduced.

The survey was carried out by Councillor Jonathan Wallace in Byermoor and Marley Hill and by Councillor Peter Maughan in Watergate. It will be extended to other villages in the area shortly.

“The survey so far shows that people have been disappointed with the refusal by Labour in Gateshead to extend kerbside collections to plastics and cardboard,” said Councillor Wallace.

“We already have a large number of signatures on the petition and are looking forward to collecting more.”

Councillor Maughan said, “Our thanks to everyone so far who has taken part in the survey. We will be looking into the issues raised.”

Gateshead Summer Flower Show July 2007

Gateshead Summer Flower Show was held at the Central Nursery and Watergate Park on 27-29 July 2007.

Lotties Wood, Sunnside

This video was made to show the transformation of the fields next to Lotties Wood, between Streetgate and Sunniside. The Woodland Trust ploughed the field in December to kill the weeds. It has now become a meadow rich in wild flowers.

Opencast appeal withdrawn

LIBERAL Democrat councillors who fought plans for a huge opencast mine in western Gateshead have welcomed the decision of the applicant to withdraw their appeal.

Halls of Durham had applied for planning permission to opencast a site at Skons Park, next to the historic Gibside estate near Whickham, Burnopfield and Rowlands Gill.

But the planning application was refused by Gateshead Council after a huge campaign by residents, campaign groups and local councillors.

Halls had appealed to the government’s planning inspectors to overturn the decision and a public inquiry was due to take place in the autumn. But now the appeal has been withdrawn, the inquiry will no longer go ahead.

Councillor Jonathan Wallace, one of the leaders of the campaign against the opencast plans, said he was delighted the appeal had been withdrawn but warned that there may be a new application to opencast the site shortly.

“It is likely that Halls must have seen that their appeal would not survive the scrutiny of a public inquiry,” said Councillor Wallace.

“It is unfortunate that Halls have put local councils and the planning inspectorate to such trouble. After all that, they have now accepted that their planning application was inadequate and lacked necessary information.

“However, that was always obvious to those who campaigned against this application and to Gateshead Council’s Planning Department.

“This however is not the end of the story. It is likely that Halls will submit a new application later this year. Those who fought this application last time are, I am sure, ready to do battle again.”

Campaign against Wylam Bridge closure

Plans by Northumberland County Council to close Wylam Bridge for up to five months are being opposed by Wylam’s Liberal Democrat Councillors Nick Appleby and Tom Appleby.

The closure will not only have an impact on the people of Wylam, local businesses, and emergency services but will also deeply effect the people of Throckley, Newburn (Newcastle), Crawcrook, Ryton, Clara Vale, Greenside (Gateshead), Ovingham, Horsley, Heddon, and Prudhoe (Northumberland). Crawcrook residents have already started their own campaign.

A protest meeting is to be held by residents on Friday 27th July at 10.30am at the Old Station Car park in Wylam.

Concerns have been expressed by Wylam’s district councillors about the refusal of the County Council to discuss the closure with them.

Labour hold Dunston and Teams by-election

The Dunston and Teams by-election, on Thursday 5th July, was held by Labour. The votes cast were:

Labour 793
Liberal Democrats (Michael Ruddy) 285
BNP 131
Conservatives 69

Majority 508

The seat was the top target for the BNP in the North East but their performance must be leaving them wondering why they bothered.

Meanwhile the Conservatives broke their own record for the lowest vote they have ever achieved in a ward in Gateshead.

Repairs to historic wall welcomed

Liberal Democrat Councillors in Whickham, Gateshead, have welcomed repairs to an historic wall that had been left crumbling for years.

Councillor Peter Maughan had raised concerns about the damage to the stone wall around the former Dunston Hill Hospital, on Whickham Highway.

He had pressed the company developing the Dunston Hill site for housing to repair the wall which is seen by thousands of local residents every day.

“The wall was a mess with crumbling stonework and in some cases complete stones had been removed and not replaced,” said Peter.

“But at long last, the developers have repaired the wall and it is now in a much improved condition.”

Gateshead residents asked about “Get Carter” car park demolition

GATESHEAD residents are being asked whether or not they support the demolition of the landmark “Get Carter” car park.

An on-line poll has been set up on the party’s local news blog, Gateshead News. Residents are asked whether or not they support the Council’s recent go-ahead for demolition.

The car park was made famous as one of the venues for the 1972 film classic “Get Carter” starring Michael Cain. Gateshead Council took the decision in June to demolish the car park by November.

Councillor Jonathan Wallace, who supports the demolition of the car park and the redevelopment of Gateshead town centre, said, “We thought it would be useful to let people give their own views by voting on our on-line poll.”

Liberal Democrats petition on Watergate “scandal”

LIBERAL Democrats in Lobley Hill, Dunston Hill and Whickham in Gateshead have launched a petition calling for more dog waste bins to be installed in Watergate Park.

Residents have raised with the party’s councillors and campaigners their concerns about the lack of waste bins in the park which is popular with dog walkers.

Leading the petition is Susan Craig, Focus Team Leader for Lobley Hill.

“Residents have told us it’s a scandal that the only bin is at the car park,” said Susan. “The overwhelming majority of dog owners are responsible and take a bag to scoop up their pet’s poo.

“But apart from a bin in a place that for many is out of the way, there is nowhere to put the waste.

“We hope our petition will be supported by Gateshead Council.”

Liberal Democrats press MP on Post Office closures

LIBERAL Democrats in Gateshead have written to Labour MP for Tyne Bridge, David Clelland, asking him if he will fight Post Office closures in his constituency.

The Government has called for the closure of 2500 branches throughout the UK and lists of those to close are currently being drawn up. If the Government’s plans go through, it will mean the axing of one in five Post Offices.

Leader of the Dunston and Teams Liberal Democrat Focus Team, Michael Ruddy, has written to Mr Clelland to raise the concerns of local residents about Labour’s decision to close a fifth of all Post Offices.

In his letter, Mr Ruddy wrote, “As you will be aware, the proposals to close a further 2,500 post offices are of concern to many people. Also the limited period of consultation that takes place when a closure is proposed means that people have to respond very quickly when to fight closure of any particular post office when it is proposed.

“With this in mind, could you please advise me if you will be opposing any further post office closures if any are proposed within the Gateshead part of your constituency?”

After sending the letter, Mr Ruddy said, “Post Offices are vital to communities and it is very worrying that Labour are planning to close so many.

“Labour shut down 5 branches in their last round of closures three years ago. Now they are back again with the axe.

“Though it is Labour policy to close so many Post Offices, we are at least hoping that Mr Clelland will oppose his party’s plans and back local branches to keep them open.”

Get Carter Car Park to be demolished

Gateshead's multi-storey car park is to be demolished. The building was made famous as a location in the 1972 film classic Get Carter starring Michael Cain. Have you voted in our on-line poll about whether or not the building should be demolished. Whatever your views, watch our video about the demolition plans now!

Gateshead residents “must not be forced to vote by post”

LIBERAL Democrats in Gateshead have opposed moves to force residents to vote by post rather than at a polling station in elections.

Gateshead Labour councillors voted to scrap polling stations at the meeting of the Council held on Thursday 7th June.

But Liberal Democrat councillors called for people to have the choice of voting by post or at a polling station.

“This is an issue about freedom of choice,” said Liberal Democrat Councillor Peter Maughan.

“Whilst many people prefer voting by post, there are many others who do not trust postal voting.

“And whilst there was no evidence of voter fraud in Gateshead in past elections, there have been high profile and serious examples elsewhere.

“Furthermore, it is impossible to know how much pressure one dominant individual puts on other members of the same household to vote in a particular way as postal voting loses the secrecy you get at a polling station.

“Liberal Democrats therefore voted against the call to scrap polling stations.”

Councillor Jonathan Wallace said, “The government are very unlikely to grant Labour’s request in Gateshead. They have already ruled out all postal voting generally because of the problems of fraud.

“And I doubt they will agree to Gateshead’s request that they should be made a special case.”

All postal voting was last used in an election in 2004 when the local and Euro elections were held on the same day. The system nearly collapsed as it could not cope with the huge task of getting ballot papers to residents.

Postal votes had to be delayed whilst emergency measures were introduced to solve the near breakdown in the postal vote system.

Recycling petition launched

LIBERAL Democrats have launched a petition calling on Gateshead Council to consider introducing kerbside collections of plastic and cardboard waste.

The petition was launched following the decision of the ruling Labour group to reject calls for kerbside collections to be extended.

Currently collections of paper, cans and bottles are made once a fortnight from homes in Gateshead. At a Council meeting on 7th June, Liberal Democrats called on Gateshead Council to look at expanding collections to include plastic and cardboard.

But Labour councillors binned the idea, claiming lorries would run late and waste plastic would have to be washed before collection.

Liberal Democrats vowed however to continue the battle. They have launched the petition so that residents can put pressure on Labour to make them change their mind.

Dunston and Teams campaigner Michael Ruddy said, “We are disappointed at Labour’s decision but we will continue to campaign for better recycling. We have already send petition forms to over 1000 homes in Gateshead. More will be sent shortly.”

Whickham Councillors’ Walkabout

WHICKHAM’S 9 Liberal Democrat councillors have carried out a walkabout of the village centre to look at local issues and problems with the locations visited being decided by residents.

The councillors, who represent the three different Whickham wards on Gateshead Council, invited residents by email last week to send in concerns and issues about any problems that need tackling in Whickham village.

All the replied were used to draw up a route for the walkabout which was then carried out on the morning of Saturday 23rd June.

A video of the walkabout was also shot and this will be handed on to officers of Gateshead Council so that they can take up the issues raised.

“We wanted to come up with a new way of letting residents raise concerns,” said Councillor Mary Wallace. “We already do an email newsletter to hundreds of households in the area.

“So we added on to it a request for people to raise concerns about the village centre. Having looked at the issues raised and filmed them on video, we can hand the video on to the appropriate officers.”

Councillor Peter Maughan said, “Residents gave us a long list of issues to take up. We have already raised some with officers.

“This experiment seems to have worked and we will be doing it in other villages as well."

Labour election team get it wrong again!

LABOUR in Gateshead has been accused of talking up the vote of the BNP in a by-election in a ward where the fringe party is in a distant third place.

Dunston and Teams ward goes to the polls on Thursday 5th July. Labour are defending the seat following the death of the widely respected Councillor Maureen Clelland.

However Labour’s election candidate has claimed in his election leaflet that “voting LibDem or Conservative could let the extremist BNP in.”

Liberal Democrat Candidate Michael Ruddy came second in Dunston and Teams in May this year and has dismissed Labour’s claims as rubbish saying “Perhaps the Labour candidate, Garry Haley, has forgotten that he has lost to Liberal Democrats in his five previous election attempts.”

“This is a ridiculous tactic by Labour,” said Councillor Frank Hindle, the Liberal Democrats’ agent for the election. “The BNP were in third place in May – and in the elections before that.

“Labour know that if they can’t get their vote out, they could lose yet another seat to the Liberal Democrats who are in second place.”

Mr Haley was Labour candidate for Whickham South in 2002 and 2003, for Whickham South and Sunniside in 2004, and for Dunston Hill and Whickham East in 2006 and 2007.

In the last 10 years, Labour have lost 9 council seats in Gateshead – all to the Liberal Democrats, who now have 23 Councillors.

Lib Dems to press on with recycling call

LIBERAL Democrats in Gateshead are to continue campaigning for kerbside collections of plastics and cardboard for recycling despite the decision by the Labour run Council to reject the proposal.

Liberal Democrat councillors moved a motion calling for the current kerbside collection scheme for paper, cans and glass to be extended to cardboard and plastics at the meeting held on 7th June.

The motion was moved by Councillor Allison Chatto and seconded by Councillor Peter Maughan.

It called on Gateshead Council to investigate how kerbside collections could be introduced.

But replying to the motion, Labour Councillor and Cabinet member, Michael McNestry attached the call, claiming that in other authorities collection lorries ran late, plastics had to be washed and the system couldn’t cope with the material collected.

“I was very disappointed with Labour’s negative attitude,” said Councillor Chatto. “Here was an opportunity for the Council at least to investigate the possibility of kerbside collections.

“But Labour chose to dismiss the idea out of hand. Whilst the Liberal Democrats are arguing to make Gateshead greener, Labour are standing in the way of progress.”

Councillor Maughan said, “We are taking the message to the people of Gateshead that we want a greener borough. And we will continue to argue that Labour should look again at our proposal.”

Liberal Democrats choose Michael again for by-election

LIBERAL Democrats in Dunston and Teams in Gateshead have chosen Michael Ruddy to be their candidate for the ward by election being held on 5th July.

Michael, who lives in Victoria Street in the Teams is a former taxi driver. He fought the ward in the May local elections when he came second to Labour.

“If elected I want to be a strong voice for our area on Gateshead Council," said Michael. "I am also joining with Liberal Democrat councillors from across Gateshead to campaign for more and better recycling in the borough.

“Labour’s recent decision to reject kerbside collections of plastics and cardboard for recycling was a bad decision for Gateshead and the environment. Liberal Democrats are campaigning to make Gateshead greener.”

Photo: Michael Ruddy and Susan Craig in the Teams. Michael has been chosen by Liberal Democrats to be their candidate for the Dunston and Teams by-election on Thursday 5th July. Susan was the Liberal Democrat candidate for neighbouring Lobley Hill and Bensham ward where she has slashed Labour's majority to just 54 votes.

Printed by Gateshead Liberal Democrats, 97 Front Street, Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE16 4JL and promoted by Frank Hindle on behalf of Michael Ruddy, all at Room 311, Aidan House, Sunderland Road, Gateshead NE8 3HU