Work starts on Remaking Beamish after record visitor figures

Visitor numbers to Beamish Museum have again broken records this year. In August alone, 122,000 people visited the open air museum. Work has now started on the biggest development agreed so far at the award winning museum. Remaking Beamish will see the creation of a 1950s town with prefabricated homes relocated from Kibblesworth. The town will have a cinema, community centre, shops and cafe. A restored trolley bus will be carrying visitors to and from the town. In the Georgian area of the museum, a coaching inn will be built, along with a quilter's cottage and a windmill.

The Heritage Lottery Fund has paid £11 million towards the costs of the project with the remaining £7 million raised by the Museum. Work to create the new attractions will be carried out over the next three years.

Historian and Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition on Gateshead Council, Jonathan Wallace, welcomed the developments at Beamish. "The new attractions will help to bring more visitors to the region, boosting jobs and the local economy."

Questions raised over derelict Dunston Hill School

Photo: Cllr Peter Maughan and Kevin McClurey outside the derelict Dunston Hill School

The Lib Dem Focus Team in Dunston is pressing Gateshead Council to take action to demolish the former Dunston Hill School which has been allowed to turn into a derelict eyesore.

“Over two years ago, plans were put forward for the site to be used as a cancer care facility with some house-building on the site,” said Lib Dem campaigner Kevin McClurey.

“Two years on and all that has happened on the site is that the once valuable building has turned into a derelict eyesore right in the heart of the community.

“Trees are now growing out of walls, windows are smashed and weeds are taking over paths. Residents are telling us that they are fed up with the eyesore on our doorsteps.

“While Labour are happy to build houses on our countryside, they are showing an alarming lack of interest in getting this site cleared up and developed.”

Cllr Peter Maughan said, “I have written to the Council’s chief executive to draw attention yet again to the need to sort out the school site.

“Residents have waited long enough for the original plans to be put into operation. With nothing having happened yet, despite the passage of so much time, I have urged that the building be demolished and marketed as a site suitable for affordable homes - not the super-expensive homes
Labour wants for our area.

“I am yet to receive a response to my request but I am continuing to press the case. It is totally unacceptable that people are being forced to live next door to this derelict mess. This site could be sold by the council to raise valuable funds and provide affordable homes for local people.”

Finalised Dunston Hill house building plans expected by December

Photo: Lib Dem campaigners Cllr Peter Maughan and Kevin McClurey outside the Central Nursery where Labour plans to build 100s of executive homes.

Lib Dem campaigners, who have been leading the battle against Labour’s plans to build nearly 600 executive homes on local countryside, are warning that 2018 could see “our countryside buried under concrete” if the house-building proposals are not defeated.

Labour Coucillors battled to have the Central Nursery and fields to the south of Whickham Highway removed from the greenbelt so that the superexpensive housiing plans can go ahead.

Lib Dem Councillor Peter Maughan has contacted planning officers for an update on the plans submitted earlier this year by house-builder Persimmon.

“I have been told that the plans could come to the Council’s planning committee by December at the earliest but discussions on some of the details of the application are still being sorted,” said Peter.

“Liberal Democrats are continuing the battle to defeat the housing plans, said Lib Dem campaigner Kevin McClurey. "We circulated a petition earlier this year opposing the current planning application and we are continuing to collect signatures.

“Labour claims that they ‘are for the many, not the few’ are dead in the water in Gateshead. The executive homes they want on Dunston Hill will be well beyond what most residents can afford. Instead of affordable homes for the many, they are building expensive homes for the few.

“In Crawcrook, a similar plan by Labour has seen new houses built that will start at 10 times the average annual pay of residents. The Dunston Hill Houses are likely to be even more expensive.”

Queen Elizabeth Hospital open Day

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is holding an open day on Wednesday 1st November, from 3.30pm to 6pm. The event will take place at the Quenellies Restaurant at the Windy Nook entrance. If you are interested in a career with the hospital, would like a health check-up orwant to find out more about the services it provides, staff will be on hand throughout the afternoon to assist you. You can also learn about becoming a member and having a say in your local hospital.

To book a place call 0191 445 3712/3713 or email debbie.atkinson4@nhs.net or joannewilliamson3@nhs.net

Gateshead and Newcastle Healthcare survey

NHS continuing healthcare (CHC) is an ongoing package of care outside of hospital that is arranged and funded by the NHS, where a person is found to have a ‘primary health need’. Care can be provided in a range of settings, including residential care or in someone's own home. Healthwatch Gateshead and Healthwatch Newcastle are researching relevant issues with service users, carers and relatives, the voluntary and community sector, service providers and commissioners. If you live in Newcastle or Gateshead and have been through the CHC pathway in the past 12 months, or are starting the process, we would like to hear about your experiences. Take the survey at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NHS-CHC

Recent plans for Gateshead

Pub to housing plans for Heworth

Planning permission is being sought for new housing at the Maiden Over pub on Low Heworth Lane in Heworth. The proposals, which have been handed in to Gateshead Council, will see, if approved, two detached houses on the former car park. The pub itself will be converted into two houses. The plans include the creation of garden space and parking for each house and cycle storage.

Community Farm’s plan

Gibside Community Farm are seeking planning permission for a portacabin for office/shelter near Fellside Road.

Powered up in Lamesley

Planning permission is being sought for a 49.99 MW Gas Fired Electricity Generating Facility at Long Acre Farm, Lamesley. Landscaping of the site forms part of the plan as well.

Ryton Tower improvement

Planning permission is being sought to install external fire escape stairs on north and east sides of Ryton Tower Residential Home, Whitewell Lane, Ryton.

Winlaton assisted living plan

Plans for new housing in Winlaton have been submitted to Gateshead Council. If approved, the garage site behind 33 - 43 Derwent View, Winlaton will be used for four assisted living flats and associated parking.

Urban garden proposed for Gateshead

Plans have been submitted to the Council for a temporary urban garden at Hillgate Quay. The development would be open in June 2018 at the site located between HMS Calliope and the Swing Bridge to coincide with the Great Exhibition for the North.

The aim is to bring visitors to the area and support the local economy. No costs of the garden will fall on the council. Instead, the costs will me covered by the private sector. Plans for the garden have been drawn up by Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medalist and TV garden designer Diarmuid Gavin . #

He aims to create a cultural oasis and would be the largest container garden in the world. There will be open areas of trees and mixed planting using 90 shipping containers split between two main areas, the Plaza Garden and the Main Urban Garden. There will be retail, catering and art attractions as well as start-up and local businesses.

There will also be space for the community and voluntary sector to ensure wider social value and engagement connecting local communities to the Quays.

About 100 people will work at the site, while volunteers and National Trust gardeners would be involved in maintaining the garden. Fruit and vegetables grown at the site would be used by the catering outlets. It is anticipated that the site could attract 200,000 visitors.

Planning permission will be needed but if approved, work could begin on site in January with completion in June 2018.

Lib Dem Leader on Gateshead Council, Jonathan Wallace, welcomed the plans but at a meeting of the Gateshead and Newcastle Partnership on 5th October, he questioned why the garden will only be temporary.

"Given the investment that will go into this garden, and the likelihood that it could continue to attract visitors to the area, therefore boosting the economy, we should be looking at a permanent feature there, not a temporary one," said Jonathan.

Whickham's Chase Park to reopen this weekend

Major renovation work on Whickham's historic Chase Park has now been completed. To celebrate the £1 million refurbishment, Friends of Chase Park are holding a re-opening event on Saturday, 23rd September, from 11am to 3pm.

The Mayor of Gateshead, Cllr Pauline Dillon, will lead the re-opening ceremony. There will be lot of entertainment, activities and a fair.

Everyone is welcome to join in the celebrations.



The renovation of the Park was the result of the Friends of Chase Park's campaign to restore it to its former glory. A partnership of the Friends and Gateshead Council saw a successful bid for £1 million made to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Big Lottery Fund. The work was carried out during 2017 and includes:

•​Restoration of the listed windmill, entrance gates, paths and ornamental garden

•​Replanting of flower beds and trees

•​Remodelling and enhancement of the toddler play area

•​Resurfacing of the tennis courts and new table tennis installed 

•​New junior play area and skateboard park

•​Outdoor gym/trim trail 

•​Development of community garden 

•​New benches, signs and interpretations of heritage points of interest.

Labour Rebels Hand May a Blank Cheque - Wallace

Liberal Democrats in Gateshead have accused the Labour Party of handing Theresa May a blank cheque over the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. A vote held on 12th September  on the EU withdrawal Bill saw 7 Labour MPs vote with the Conservatives, helping to boost May’s majority.

The Withdrawal Bill will pass all current EU laws and rules into British law and give Government ministers unprecedented powers to change them without requiring further legislation.

Lib Dem candidate for Blaydon, Jonathan Wallace, said, “Despite Labour flip-flopping over their stance on the EU and the Single Market, they at least had a definite position on this Bill, which was to oppose it. In the Commons, Theresa May blew away her majority at the snap General Election in June so even a small rebellion by the chaotic Labour Party saves the Conservatives.

“That’s exactly what’s happened here. Those Labour rebels, and those who abstained, in effect teamed up with the Tory Right and the DUP to hand ministers massive powers to by-pass Parliament.”

Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson, said, “This Bill will hand the Government unprecedented new powers. MPs, especially those who campaigned to leave the EU on the basis of ‘taking back control’ for our Parliament, should be ashamed.  They have abdicated their responsibility to scrutinise legislation and relinquished Parliamentary sovereignty to Theresa May’s unrepresentative cabal.

“This is a dark day for the mother of parliaments.  The Liberal Democrats will fight to amend the bill in Committee to stop this affront to democracy.

“Labour rebels have handed the Government sweeping anti-democratic powers.  A significant number walked hand in hand with the Tories and have given the Government extreme powers not seen since the Middle Ages.”

Swalwell Fayre

Swalwell Community Group are holding a summer fayre in Swalwell Park on Saturday 12th August from 12pm - 4pm. There will be fairground rides, animals, stalls and much more. All welcome. Funds raised will help pay for the Swalwell Christmas tree.

Insurance coughs up cost of repairing Blaydon footbridge

Last week at full council in Gateshead, Lib Dem Cllr, Jonathan Wallace, raised the issue of who paid for the repairs to the Blaydon Footbridge. Last August, a lorry driver drove into the bridge causing considerable damage. A section of the bridge had to be removed. The repairs and replacement of the missing section took place earlier this month. Cllr Wallace had previously raised concerns that the costs would fall on local council taxpayers.

"I'm pleased to report that the driver's insurance has paid for the repairs. Well done to the officers of the council who ensured the insurance of the responsible driver paid for the work," said Jonathan.

The start of the video above was shot in December 2016 when the central section was still missing with the 2nd half of the video being shot earlier this month when the missing section was installed.

Welcome for Gateshead Energy Plant

Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition in Gateshead, Jonathan Wallace, has welcomed the news that the Gateshead Energy Centre will be open for business shortly. Cllr Wallace's comments were made following a visit to the plant in central Gateshead recently.

The move by Gateshead Council to create an energy company and generate heat and electricity came about after Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government changed the law that prevented councils from setting up and running their own energy providers.

"The plant will generate electricity and hot water which will be pumped to other buildings in central Gateshead," said Jonathan. "Older power stations don't use the hot water from the electricity generating process. It is simply thrown away. In Gateshead it will be used to heat businesses, public buildings and people's homes.

"The profit will come back to Gateshead Council to support local services. We need to look now at how to set up similar plants elsewhere in Gateshead and to look at how renewable fuels can be used to generate power."

£1bn DUP deal could have paid for 10 extra teachers in Gateshead

The government's £1bn deal with the DUP could have paid for at least one extra teacher for every secondary school across the UK, including 10 more teachers in Gateshead, research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

Official figures show there are 4,169 state-funded secondary schools in the UK and that the average cost of employing a teacher is £44,500. This means if the additional £1bn had been distributed evenly among the UK's schools, each would receive £240,000, enough to hire one additional teacher in each secondary school over the next five years.  

This would have meant an additional £2.4 million of spending on schools in Gateshead, enough to hire 10 teachers in each secondary school in the borough.

Liberal Democrat Leader of the Opposition on Gateshead Council, Jonathan Wallace, said, "The £1 billion Theresa May has spent on her deal with the DUP could have been spent employing 10 extra secondary school teachers in Gateshead.

"When it comes to the Tories clinging to power, it seems the magic money tree does exist after all. This simply won't wash with parents in Gateshead seeing their schools considering laying off teachers as a result of crippling cuts.

"The Conservatives must start investing more in our schools and not just on keeping Theresa May in Downing Street."

Blaydon Bridge Section Replaced

The missing section of the Blaydon Footbridge was successfully replaced on Saturday 1st July. Work on the bridge caused the closure of the eastbound A695.

The damage to the bridge was caused in August 2016 when a lorry hit it. Gateshead Lib Dem Councillors have raised the issue of who pays for the repairs. An answer is awaited.

Road closure to install new Blaydon bridge

The eastbound carriageway of the Blaydon Highway and the adjacent Tyne Street will be closed to traffic on Saturday 1st July from 6am to allow contractors to install a new section to the footbridge over the A695.

The closure is required to allow the new prefabricated bridge span to be delivered on a low loader and also allow for the positioning of a crane to lift the new footbridge section into position.

A signed diversion route will be in place to divert traffic from the A695 Blaydon Roundabout via Shibdon Road onto the B6317 Chainbridge Road. The A695 Westbound highway will remain open to traffic.

The length of time required for installing the new bridge section will depend on weather conditions, but it is hoped that the work can be completed within the day.

Motorists are advised to seek alternative routes if possible and to allow a little more time for their journey.

Dementia tax victory welcomed in Gateshead

Liberal Democrat campaigners are celebrating a victory for pensioners and families across the UK as the hated ‘Dementia Tax’ is removed from the Queen’s Speech

The Conservatives have been forced to u-turn on the dreaded ‘Dementia Tax’. With no mention of their horrific policy in the Queen’s Speech, they have been forced to kick their plans into the long grass.

This is a big victory for Liberal Democrats who campaigned hard to scrap the ‘Dementia Tax’ and to save the ‘Lib Dem pension Triple Lock'.

Lib Dem Leader of the Opposition on Gateshead Council, Dr Jonathan Wallace, said, “The Conservatives should be ashamed of their plans. We now demand assurances from the government that the ‘Dementia Tax’ is gone for good!

"As the Conservatives set out their plans for the country in the Queen's Speech, there was no mention of stopping real terms cuts to the NHS, the police or to our schools. In addition, the economy was barely mentioned either.

"What once was the crutch of the Conservative party is now broken - with more debt every day and a large Brexit bill to pay."

Race night winnings boost Whickham Christmas fund

The funds for the Whickham Christmas tree and decorations have been boosted significantly following a race night held at the Whickham Glebe Sports Club on 13th May. Nearly 100 residents came to the event to help boost the funds needed to ensure the village has Christmas tree. Gateshead Council stopped providing funds for Christmas trees and decorations throughout Gateshead four years ago.

Cllr Sonya Hawkins, chairman of Lighting Up Whickham, said, "The Race Night was great fun and raised lots of money towards our goal of extending the decorations this coming winter to St Mary's Green. But there's still lots of fundraising to do to reach our target."

If you would like to help Lighting Up Whickham raise more funds, please contact Cllr Sonya Hawkins.

Whickham's Chase Park at risk from housing development

Cllr Jonathan Wallace interviews Cllr Peter Maughan about Gateshead Labour Council's proposals to sell off Whickham's Chase Park for housing. There are fears this could be the thin end of the wedge. The area for sale also includes the main entrance to the park off Rectory Lane. Cllr Maughan is leading the campaign against the sale.

“Thousands of Homes at risk from Tories Dementia Tax in Gateshead and South Tyneside” - Peter Maughan

Liberal Democrats in Gateshead and South Tyneside have warned that thousands of local homes are at risk from Tory plans to force older people with extensive care needs to pay for their own care.

Peter Maughan, candidate for Jarrow constituency, said, “The Tories’ are beginning to show their real colours. Theresa May is trying to take many elderly people for granted and if she can get away with it, she will force the sale of family homes to pay for the cost of social care.

“By failing to put a cap on the overall amount people are expected to pay, the Tories are putting an unreasonable and heavy burden on the families of those who are unfortunate enough to suffer from long term health problems that need long term care packages when living at home.

"My message to those thinking of voting for Theresa May is this: don't bet your house on it.

"Liberal Democrats will lead the fight against the grossly unfair Dementia Tax that could wipe out half the value of the average home.

"On Thursday, you can elect me as you Liberal Democrat MP to be your voice in Westminster and stand up for you on the Dementia Tax and the NHS."

Residents are being encouraged to sign the petition against the Dementia Tax at www.DementiaTax.org.

Call to keep European green laws

 

Jonathan Wallace, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for Blaydon, is calling on the Government to retain EU environmental laws when the UK drops out of the European Union.

“Protecting the environment has been one of the great successes of the EU,” said Jonathan. “As a result of Europe’s green laws, our rivers and seas are cleaner. There are fewer pollutants in the air we breath. Green technologies have been encouraged. The amount of rubbish dumped in landfill has dropped and the amount of recycling has increased. We can thank the EU for this.

“I fear that many Conservatives are itching to dump EU green laws. For example, on 6th December at a meeting of the House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, leading Conservative backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said that, after the UK leaves the EU, our environmental and employment rules could be slashed to a level ‘good enough for India.’

“Throughout Blaydon constituency, we have lots of landfill sites. Liberal Democrat Councillors have taken the lead in pressing for stronger action to control these sites and to prevent the leakage of waste and rubbish from them. European green laws have been a vital tool in helping us to press for action.

“The Liberal Democrats are campaigning against cutting back rules that will make us all worse off after we leave the EU. I am pleased that Lib Dem Leader Tim Farron MP has stated that as a party we are pressing for green laws to remain in place to ensure we pass on a world worth having to future generations.”

Photo above: Jonathan Wallace outside the entrance to the Pathhead landfill site.