Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats

Newburn Ward

Your local Liberal Democrat councillors and FOCUS team in Newburn Ward, which also includes Throckley, Walbottle, North Walbottle and Blucher, will be pleased to hear from any resident who has a problem, query or suggestion. Please visit the 'Contact Us' page to get in touch.

• Oct 18, 2009:
  • NEW CHILDREN'S CENTRE OPENS IN NEWBURN
    More than 100 local adults and children attended the official opening of the Sure Start Newburn Children's Centre. Ward Councillor Mike Lynch, together with Judith Ledger and her son, cut the ribbon. The Children's Centre is located at Newburn Community Centre. It is a local one stop for parents and carers, bringing together a wide range of services for children under five and their families, with every community in Newcastle having access to a centre by 2010. Councillor Mike Lynch said: "I was absolutely delighted to perform the opening ceremony with Judith and her son. "I am sure the Centre will prove to be a really vital part of the Newburn Ward community." For more information contact the Centre on 229 1750. Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Aug 3, 2009:
  • MORRISON'S STORE OFFICIALLY OPENS
    The new Morrisson's store at West Denton opened it doors to the public for the first time today. The supermarket was officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Newcastle Mike Cookson, Sir Kenneth Morrison and general manager Malcolm Rennie. The store, which employs 300 people, forms part of the regeneration of the West Denton Shopping Centre. A health centre opened last year, as has a new Boots chemist and several other shops have also moved in, including a Post Office. Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Jan 7, 2009:
  • LIB DEMS INVEST IN THE FUTURE
    Millions of pounds look set to be spent on Newcastle's communities during the economic crisis. The Lib Dem-run city council plans to invest £21 million into energy efficiency, regeneration and boosting the economy. The cash will be borrowed, but council tax will still have to go up by 2.9% to cover the loan, meaning a rise of 65p per week for a family living in a Band D household. The Lib Dem council leaders are sticking to their pledge to keep the rise below the rate of inflation for the fifth year running - even though the amount Newcastle has been given by the Government has increased by only 1.75%, the joint lowest in the country. The three-year investment will secure jobs in the face of the credit crunch. Councillor Peter Allen, executive member for resources, said: "We've kept to our original election pledge when we took control of the council - bills down at or below the rate of inflation - and we're now delivering for the fifth year running. "At the same time we've invested extra in the services people have told us are most important to them, such as our hugely popular rapid response teams, improving the environment in every ward round the city. "We've achieved all this because we run an efficient operation, and we'll be tightening our belts further next year to the tune of £20 million plus, whilst still protecting frontline services." The council is saving around £20 million by cutting 500 posts - many of them managers and administrative staff. Front line jobs will be protected. The £21m investment will be spent on projects people in the city have raised as a priority, including: :: £7m extra spending on road and pavement repairs and improvements. :: £1.4m extra on grants for disabled facilities to make improvements in people's homes. :: £75,000 extra on Newcastle WarmZone, helping those facing fuel poverty. :: £800,000 extra on works at Walker Quay. :: £4m extra in a new regeneration fund to support various schemes across Newcastle. By using local external contractors for building work, jobs will be secured and no manpower will be taken away from frontline services. A scheme to help low-income first-time buyers with shared equity loans and cash from the Government and developers is on the cards, and more staff to help homeowners avoid repossessions. The council is also pledging to work with developers to help them out as the demand for homes drops, to increase the amount of affordable social housing in the city and to offer support packages for small businesses. Council leader John Shipley said: "As well as keeping council tax bills down, and protecting frontline services, there is much that the council can do to help businesses and individuals survive the economic recession. "Our budget proposals includes an extra £21 million of spending on infrastructure and regeneration projects - which will help keep many people in work in the construction industry locally. "We're also continuing with a package of interventions to help people in debt crisis, to help housebuilders and homebuyers alike, and to help small businesses. "Without this extra spending package, our council tax bills would have been even lower, but we think that supporting the city's economy through this crisis is simply the right thing to do." The council's draft budget proposals will go out for consultation before being put to councillors in March. Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Dec 15, 2008:
  • WAR MEMORIAL TO BE RESTORED TO ITS FORMER GLORY
    Newburn's war memorial is set to restored to its former glory following a campaign by the Liberal Democrats. Ron Beadle, Mike Lynch and the local Focus Team has secured £15,000 of funding. The War Memorial Trust has contributed £7,000, the city council £7,000 and the Newburn Ward Committee £1,000. Another £7,000 is being sought from the Sir James Knott Trust. The city council will also help towards the cost of new lighting and fencing. The memorial is covered in graffiti and the steps and paving slabs are in desperate need of repair. Councillor Mike Lynch says: "I am really pleased this funding has been secured to restore the war memorial. "In just six years we will see the centenary of the start of the First World War. "This war came at a terrible cost and the lives sacrificed by Newburn's sons are rightly remembered here. "I am pleased that this memorial will be properly restored before we reach that centenary." Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
  • MORE NEW HOMES WILL BE BUILT IN THROCKLEY
    More new homes are to be built in Throckley. A total of 75 units will be built at The Leazes by Your Homes Newcastle. Half of the properties will be made available for social renting. The remaining properties will be for private sale. The announcement comes after the Lib Dem Focus Team called for new houses to be built in the ward. This new development comes after work started (pictured right) to build the first council houses in the city in more than 20 years. Councillor Mike Lynch says: "I am really pleased that these new homes will be built in Throckley." Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
  • MOBILE PHONE MAST BID WITHDRAWN
    Plans to erect a mobile phone mast on land close to Throckley Primary School have been withdrawn. Local residents were opposed to the application, which would have seen a 25 metre-high tower installed on land at Quicksilver The Mover on the Lily Estate. Lib Dem councillor Mike Lynch opposed the application and requested that it be heard by the council's Development Control Committee. However, before the committee could hear the application, it was withdrawn. Councillor Mike Lynch says: "Local residents were rightly concerned about the visual impact of the mast and about the close proximity to Throckley Primary School's playground. I am pleased this application has been withdrawn." Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Sep 2, 2008:
  • LABOUR AXES NINE POST OFFICES IN NEWCASTLE
    Newcastle Liberal Democrats are angry that Labour has closed nine of the city's Post Offices despite residents' protests The axe today fell on nine of Newcastle's Post Offices despite hard-fought campaigns by local residents to keep them open. Thousands of people held public meetings, signed petitions and wrote letters protesting at the decision by Post Office Ltd to close the local branches. The closures in Newcastle are part of the Labour Government's programme to shut 2,500 Post Offices nationwide. There was also shock at the announcement that a six-week consultation has begun on the future of St Anthony's Post Office in Walker. This Post Office is facing closure because a branch has been saved in Blaydon. Newcastle's Labour MPs, Doug Henderson, Nick Brown and Jim Cousins, had the chance to halt the closure programme during a vote in the House of Commons but instead supported the Government and rejected the opposition motion. Ron Beadle, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle North, said: "More than 1,000 people signed a Liberal Democrat petition to keep our Post Offices open. "But yet again the Labour Government is showing how is has stopped listening to local people in Newcastle. "The loss of these nine branches will hit communities in Newcastle hard. "Post Offices are vital assets for many local people and these closures will cause difficulties, particularly for older people and those with mobility problems." Under Labour, thousands of Post Offices have already closed, while under the Conservatives 3,500 post offices were axed. Ron Beadle added: "Newcastle's Labour MPs had the perfect opportunity in Parliament to show their support for Post Offices. "Instead they put the Labour Party before the people of Newcastle and voted with their Government to back the closure programme." The Liberal Democrats have a plan that would save the Post Office network. "We would invest £2 billion through public shared ownership, which would revitalise the network and keep open a vital local service for millions of people across the UK," said Ron. The Post Offices that will close are: :: Clayton Road :: Howard Street :: Kenton Road :: Union Society :: Walkerville :: Brunswick Village :: Garden Village :: Walbottle :: West Denton Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Sep 1, 2008:
  • LIB DEMS CALL FOR MORE COUNCIL HOMES TO BE BUILT IN THE OUTER WEST
    The Liberal Democrats are calling for more council housing to be built in the Outer West of Newcastle. Councillor Mike Lynch, Lib Dem councillor for Newburn Ward, spoke out after work recently began to build the first council houses in the city for more than 20 years. Developers are building the new bungalows on land at the corner of Coach Road and Hallow Drive in Throckley. Some are being made available for rent through Your Homes Newcastle, which manages the council's housing stock, and others will be sold privately. Councillor Lynch said: "Local people are really pleased that work has started on these bungalows. "However, there is great demand for council-owned bungalows locally and I have already spoken to YHN to see whether even more homes can be built in the ward." Lib Dem ward colleague Councillor Mike Curthoys added: "A lot of older people living in Newburn Village and Throckley would happily swap their rented three-bedroom house for a new bungalow, which would free up these houses for families." Meanwhile a drop-in day, from 10am-4pm, is being held on September 26 at Throckley Village Hall for tenants at the Leazes about the planned works for the estate. For more information on YHN matters contact the Broomy Hill Road housing office, which is open Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 12.30pm. Tel 277 7940. Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Aug 8, 2008:
  • SAVE OUR POST OFFICES: THE LAST PUSH
    Lib Dem campaigners, including Newcastle MEP Fiona Hall, Ron Beadle and Greg Stone, gather outside Walbottle village Post Office in a final push to save nine of Newcastle's post offices from closure Liberal Democrats from across Newcastle have come together for one final push to save nine of Newcastle's post offices - just days before their future is decided. The Lib Dems gathered at Walbottle village Post Office - one of the nine threatened with the axe - having collected more than 1,000 signatures from local people opposing the closures. At Walbottle the petitions and many letters of protest - all collected since the nine closures were announced six weeks ago - were posted in order that they reach Post Office Ltd by August 11, the deadline for the end of the public consultation. Newcastle MEP Fiona Hall, who was among the protestors gathered at Walbottle, said: "Posting these 1, 000 signatures today has been an appropriate way we can show Post Office Ltd that people in Newcastle want their post office services to stay open. "Many local people need, and in some cases depend on their post offices." Ron Beadle, Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle North, added: "The way the consultation works is that at the end of all this, even if one of the 'Newcastle nine' post offices are saved, another post office - not necessarily on the current target list - will be forced to close in its place. "It is a frustrating catch 22 and just shows that the past six weeks have been nothing more than a sham consultation." The branches facing closure are: :: Clayton Road :: Howard Street :: Kenton Road :: Union Society :: Walkerville :: Brunswick Village :: Garden Village :: Walbottle :: West Denton Under the Labour Government plans more than 2,500 post offices across the country face being shut - despite public outcry - and many more closed under the Conservatives. The Liberal Democrat plan to save the Post Office network would see £2 billion invested. Recently a motion was proposed in the House of Commons demanding the Government halt their plans to make 2,500 branches shut up shop. Newcastle Labour MPs Doug Henderson, Nick Brown and Jim Cousins voted against the motion and backed the closure programme. :: To contact Post Office Ltd please see www.postoffice.co.uk/networkchange or telephone 08457 22 33 44 or email consultation@postoffice.co.uk. Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Sep 28, 2007:
  • Campaign launched to bring back No 49 bus - SIGN OUR PETITION HERE
    Mike Lynch is fighting for the 49 bus to be returned to Throckley. He is lobbying bus firm Stagecoach to being back the service, which was axed last year, and has started a petition (right). If it returned it would mean that local people would be able to get to the Customer Service Centre at West Denton and the new Morrisons when it opens. Mike says: "Bringing back the No 49 would be a major boost to the community. As well as allowing residents to get to the Customer Service Centre, it would also provide connections to the hospital." Please sign our online petition at http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/No49bus Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Sep 27, 2007:
  • Newburn Bridge re-opens to traffic
    Newburn councillor Mike Lynch at the re-opened Newburn Bridge Newburn Bridge has re-opened to traffic after a massive refurbishment. Contractors repainted the bridge and carried out essential repairs to the steelwork. This maintenance work, which began in March, was the first full repainting of the bridge for nearly 25 years. Around 2,700 litres of blue and black paint were used to cover the 3,500 square metres of the bridge. At the same time the city council replaced the street lighting on the bridge and improved the traffic signals at either end of the bridge. Newburn councillor Mike Lynch said: "I am delighted this work has finished." The scheme has been jointly funded by the Lib Dem-run city council and Gateshead Council. Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY
• Sep 26, 2007:
  • Mike Lynch supports residents in development fight
    Coun Mike Lynch and Newcastle North spokesman Ron Beadle outside Segpool House in Walbottle Newburn Ward councillor Mike Lynch is supporting residents in their fight against a housing development in his ward. Developers want to demolish Segpool House in Walbottle and replace it with four two-storey linked houses. The Lib Dem councillor is so concerned about the scheme that he organised a public meeting with local residents. More than 100 attended the meeting last week at Walbottle Institute to hear Mike speak out against the plan. Residents have also started a petition against the redevelopment and more than 200 people have signed it. Approval for the planning application rested with city council officers - a delegated decision - but Mike has already successfully lobbied for the council's development control committee to hear the application. Mike says: "This scheme would be out of keeping with the rest of Walbottle as developers want to build four red brick houses as the village is known for its stone brick housing. "I have already lobbied the council and now the planning application will be heard by councillors on the development control committee instead of an officers' delegated decision. "I intend to be at the development control meeting and will speak on behalf of residents and I will tell the councillors about how many local people are opposed to the scheme." Published and promoted by Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats, 3 Bloomsbury Ct, Newcastle, NE3 4LW Printed (hosted) by Prater Raines Ltd, 98 Sandgate High Street, Folkestone CT20 3BY