Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats

South Jesmond

Your South Jesmond team are always happy to hear from residents, and will do our best to help. Please see the 'Contacts' page for details of how to get in touch.

Your councillors can be contacted at any time by letter, phone, email or TXT, and can visit residents between 8am-8pm most days if you would find this more convenient.

• May 6, 2009:
  • LIB DEMS CALL FOR SIGNIFICANT NEW POWERS TO REGULATE LANDLORDS IN NEW GREEN PAPER
    Reports that the Government is to include a new requirement for registration of all landlords in a Green Paper due to be produced later this month have received a cool reaction from Newcastle Lib Dem campaigners. Initial reports in the Times newspaper suggest that a new green paper may require a £50 registration fee for all landlords, as part of proposals to ensure better management of rented housing which would require minimum standards to be met and landlords who intimidate tenants to be 'struck off'. However, Newcastle East Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman Greg Stone is calling for the Government to ensure that any new legislation gives local authorities significantly enhanced powers in respect of rented housing policy and is not just an excuse to introduce a "stealth tax" on landlords. Rented housing is set to be an important issue in the constituency at the next General Election. The Lib Dems are making the topic an election priority and are campaigning for more controls on the sector, which has mushroomed in recent years as a result in the growth of the student population. "The Lib Dems have been campaigning on the issue of rented housing in Newcastle East for many years in the face of sneering and inaction from Labour," said Greg Stone. "The news that a Green Paper is imminent is welcome, and we welcome the news that a registration requirement for all landlords is to be introduced as we have called for this for a long time. "However we very much hope that it will offer more than just a stealth tax on landlords, as there is a real need for substantive powers to significantly raise standards in the rented sector. "We call upon the Government to include change of use planning permission requirements for conversion of residential properties into rented houses of multiple occupation, and to introduce a new duty to make landlords responsible for ensuring that the exterior of properties are properly maintained and subject to an annual inspection. "Failure to introduce significant new powers will leave the Green Paper toothless to tackle the issues raised with us by local residents, and will be a major missed opportunity." 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
• Mar 17, 2009:
  • DOUBLING OF TUITION FEES WOULD BE DISASTER FOR THOUSANDS OF NEWCASTLE STUDENTS, SAY LIB DEMS
    Newcastle East Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman Greg Stone has expressed grave concerns over reports that university vice-chancellors are contemplating doubling the cost of tuition fees after the next General Election. With two major universities and an estimated student population of between 15,000 and 20,000 voters, Newcastle East has one of the most student-dominated electorates of any seat in the country. The seat is set to be a battle between Labour, who introduced tuition fees, and the Liberal Democrats, who remain the only major party to support scrapping of tuition fees. The sitting Labour MP Nick Brown orchestrated a last minute switching of sides by Labour backbenchers to very narrowly win the vote to introduce them in 2004. Greg Stone, Liberal Democrat, Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East, said "As an ex-funding manager for a North East university, I acknowledge that university funding is a key issue and investment is vital if our institutions are to grow and to remain competitive in an international field. "It is vital for our universities to develop research and new technologies if our economy is to prosper in the future, but at the same time, we must not prevent our young people from becoming the graduates of the future by pricing them out of higher education. "I am desperately worried that at a time of economic recession it looks increasingly likely that both Labour and the Conservatives will not oppose the vice-chancellors' plans to massively increase tuition fees by well in excess of inflation. "It will inevitably hit many of the students currently at our universities, not to mention many families who are struggling to save to afford to send their children to university in the future. "This will be disastrous news for not only the thousands of students in Newcastle East now, but for thousands of hardworking families on middle incomes in the constituency who look set to see the financial bar to university education raised even higher at a time when graduate jobs are in short supply. "Only the Liberal Democrats will fight the next election on a platform of scrapping tuition fees and allowing universities to be properly funded by scrapping ludicrous white elephants like the £10bn ID Card Scheme. "Labour's MP will have to explain to thousands of students and thousands of A-Level students in Newcastle East why he caved in on tuition fees, and why Labour is failing to take action to prevent further massive rises in the financial burden on their shoulders. "I expect Labour's vote amongst students to collapse at the next election if this plan becomes a reality." 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
• Mar 10, 2009:
  • LIB DEMS FORM CAMPAIGN GROUP FOR STUDENT CONSTITUENCIES
    The Lib Dems in Newcastle are to link up with fellow Lib Dem campaigners in other university cities to drive forward the Lib Dem message that their party best represents university constituencies and the interests of students, academics and long-term residents alike. The network has been launched by Lib Dem MP for Leeds North West Greg Mulholland, whose seat includes the two Leeds universities. Other Lib Dem held university constituencies such as Cardiff Central, Sheffield Hallam, Manchester Withington, Oxford West, and Cambridge are also in the group, along with one of the main Lib Dem target seats in the North East, City of Durham. The group will support joint campaigning on issues such as the abolition of student tuition fees, which according to the Daily Telegraph secured the Lib Dems over 50% of the student vote in the 2005 General Election, as well as identifying joint responses to issues including better regulation of student rented sector housing to tackle bad landlords and anti social behaviour. Greg Stone, a former manager at a North East university and Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East, said "The student population in Newcastle East is one of the highest in the country, and clearly the student vote will be hugely influential at the next election. "We will be reminding student voters that the local Labour MP played a major role in the introduction of tuition fees, putting the interests of the Labour government ahead of local people. "By joining up with colleagues in other university seats, I intend to champion effective solutions to issues such as student housing and community safety based on good practice from elsewhere in the country." 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
• Mar 9, 2009:
  • LIB DEMS ARE THE ONLY PARTY TO CHALLENGE TUITION FEES, SAYS CHALLENGER
    A senior Lib Dem councillor has welcomed the party's decision to reaffirm its long standing policy of scrapping tuition fees for university undergraduates at its Spring Conference in Harrogate. Councillor Greg Stone, who is leading the challenge to Labour Government Chief Whip Nick Brown, said his party was the only one challenging tuition fees. The Lib Dems also announced plans to extend the policy of free tuition to part time students in a new policy paper on post-18 education. The proposals for higher and further education, which aim to make high quality education and training available to all, include: scrapping tuition fees for first higher education degree qualifications fully funding the off the job training costs of apprenticeships improving access to HE for under represented groups reforming the bursary scheme to make it available more fairly across universities opposing Labour's cuts to adult education entitlement Councillor Greg Stone, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East, said "Newcastle East has one of the highest concentrations of student voters of any constituency in the country, including areas such as Jesmond, Heaton, Sandyford, and Battlefield/St Ann's, as well as the new University of Northumbria campus. "There are over 15,000 students living here, yet Labour MP Nick Brown played a crucial role in introducing tuition fees. "I'm also aware of far too many students from less well off local families put off from going to university because of the cost. "These are bright and able young people who are desperately worried about being saddled with debts of £10,000 or more even before living costs are considered. "The Lib Dems believe that everyone deserves the chance to develop the skills and knowledge that will give them the best opportunities in life, and that the country cannot afford not to create a highly skilled workforce to lead us out of recession. "The Lib Dems are the only major party committed to scrapping tuition fees for full and part time students, and improving access to apprenticeships, so that everyone can get the best education possible without being crippled by debt. "Labour have let down thousands of students and families in Newcastle East on this issue." 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
• Feb 27, 2009:
  • HOUSING MINISTER DITHERS IN RESPONSE TO LIB DEM CALL FOR MORE PLANNING POWERS TO TACKLE 'STUDENTIFICATION'
    A Housing Minister has come under fire from a senior Newcastle Liberal Democrat over student housing. IaIn Wright admitted in a letter that the Government had yet to make up its mind on adopting a call by Lib Dem-run Newcastle City Council to change planning law on conversion of residential properties into multi occupancy lets for students. The Lib Dems are pushing for the Government to adopt "change of use class" powers which would increase regulation of the buy-to-let market by requiring persons seeking to convert family dwellings into private rented student housing to secure planning permission for "change of use". At present there is no restriction on such conversions in England, although the devolved Northern Irish government has introduced a similar policy. Councillor Greg Stone, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East, said that residents of the "inner east" parts of the city, including Jesmond, Heaton, and Sandyford were "crying out" for more powers to address the long-term trend of studentification, but the Government was "dithering" over whether to introduce the plan. In the minister's response to a letter from the city council seeking clarification of the Government's intentions, Mr Wright replied: "We have recently published research work which looked at the issue of the UCO [use class order] and HMOs [houses of multiple occupation]. "The research work was commissioned to identify good practice in areas that manage to cope relatively well with high concentrations of HMOs, to test whether these ideas could have a wider application in those areas which have difficulty with such issues and to determine whether, and if so what, planning policy is a suitable lever to tackle these problems… "Once we have finished considering the report's recommendations we will consult on possible options for change. I anticipate that this will be soon." Greg Stone said "People in my constituency are crying out for action on this issue. "The introduction of change of use class powers for student housing conversions would give the local authority significantly more power to control the spread of private rented student housing and would prevent further loss of family housing stock. "It would be a vital tool in securing a sustainable balance between family and student housing, to go alongside the city council's policy of increasing provision of purpose built student accommodation. "However, the proposal appears to be gathering dust in the minister's in-tray. "The Government has been sitting on this report since September but has failed to act, and the minister is unable to give a timetable for when they will begin consultation on this matter. "The Lib Dems want real action on this issue as soon as possible on behalf of the people of Newcastle East, whilst Labour are only offering dithering and delay until after the General Election. "As Lib Dem spokesman for Newcastle East I pledge to make this issue a top election priority." 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
  • EXTRA POLICE PATROLS ACROSS JESMOND
    Extra police patrols will help curb anti-social and nuisance behaviour in and around the Jesmond. More officers will be out on the streets between 10pm and 4am in Jesmond and Sandyford as part of an initiative involving local police, councillors and the city's universities. The aim is to tackle late-night anti-social behaviour and noise and where necessary make arrests when people fail to abide by the law. The operation has been launched to tackle late night disturbances, which in most cases have been due to the actions of a small minority of the students. Noisy parties are frequently the problem, though in some cases the behaviour has been more serious, such as bottles being thrown at residents' homes. These patrols will be funded by the North and South Jesmond ward committees, with both contributing £5,000. Newcastle University has also contributed £5,000 and Northumbria University £2,500. Councillor Catherine Pagan, who represents North Jesmond, said: "We hope that the guaranteed presence of police on the streets through the night will greatly improve the quality of life in Jesmond." If you experience late night noise you should ring the Neighbourhood Helpline on 0300 1000 101. To report an incident to the police you should use the police non-emergency number 08456 043 043. When it is an emergency you should dial 999. 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
• Oct 7, 2008:
  • LEARNING AND SKILLS COUNCIL CHALLENGED ON 16-18 EDUCATIONAL MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE CRISIS
    A senior Newcastle Liberal Democrat has called upon Tyneside education chiefs to provide information on the extent of the crisis hitting payments of education maintenance allowances to 16 to 19 year old students. Councillor Greg Stone, Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East, said that the president of the Association of Colleges has recently claimed that up to three quarters of eligible students are experiencing problems with their EMA payments of up to £30 a week - leaving many in financial difficulty. The problem has been attributed to a major failure of the private company IT system set up to administer the scheme. Students who qualify for these grants are typically on low incomes and are studying to improve their basic and vocational skills at FE colleges and other vocational training providers. Councillor Stone, who is also the chair of the Newcastle Futures employability project, said: "I am deeply concerned at the incompetent way this scheme is being administered. I am hearing worrying reports that students are finding themselves unable to cover costs such as travelling to and from college. I understand that many students are considering whether or not they can afford to continue in education due to the problems with their EMA payments. This is not good news in a contracting jobs market at a time when we need an increasingly skilled workforce "I intend to table questions to the next meeting of Newcastle City Council about the extent of this problem in the city, and will be writing to Newcastle College and the Learning and Skills Council to identify what steps are being taken to address the problem at local level. "However, the ultimate responsibility for this shambolic state of affairs lies with the Government, who have known about this problem for several months yet have failed to take decisive action to address this crisis. "Labour are very fond of proclaiming this initiative as a flagship policy, but the disastrous way it is being implemented is nothing short of a disgrace." 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, 2008:
  • LIB DEMS CLAIM VICTORY ON STUDENT HOUSING POLICY AFTER LABOUR FINALLY AGREE TO DEMANDS
    A senior Lib Dem campaigner has welcomed an announcement that Housing Minister Caroline Flint is to introduce new proposals to address "studentification" in university towns such as Newcastle in a new Housing Green Paper - but has expressed regret that the move has taken so long. Councillor Greg Stone, Lib Dem Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East, is also calling for a loophole in the Government's plans to be tightened. Reports suggest that the Government will finally back Lib Dem calls to extend Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) planning and licensing powers already operating in Northern Ireland throughout Britain, allowing local authorities more power to regulate the private rented sector of student accommodation by requiring formal "change of use class" planning permission to convert dwellings into student rented properties. The city council agreed a motion from North Jesmond Lib Dem councillor Ron Armstrong in 2007 which calls for exactly the type of measures Flint is proposing Massive growth in the student population of the city - currently estimated at 36,000 - in recent years was not addressed by the previous Labour council administration, who did little to encourage new purpose built accommodation, and permitted a significant number of affordable and family homes in these areas to be converted to student rentals. Since 2004, the Lib Dem council administration has introduced local planning policies to restrain further proliferation in established family residential areas, and has encouraged development of new purpose built student accommodation blocks close to campus and in edge of city centre locations. In the period between 2000 and 2008, the student private rented sector has expanded from 2% to nearly 5% of the total homes in the city, with major knock on effects for availability of housing. Greg Stone said: "It is welcome to see that the Government has finally taken on board the persistent and continuous Lib Dem call for action on this matter over the last decade, but it has come many years too late in Newcastle. "First we had to wait five years for Labour to introduce HMO licensing powers, only to find that the eventual 2003 Act failed to give sufficient power to councils to address this issue. "We have long called for England to have the same powers as Northern Ireland on this matter, which has a major impact on quality of life for students and locals alike in areas of my constituency such as Jesmond, Sandyford and Heaton. "Students and the universities are vital and very welcome contributors to the life and economy of Newcastle but the failure to manage the impact of massive growth in numbers between 1997 and 2004 by Labour has caused problems. "By contrast, the Lib Dems have been proved right in our proactive approach to this issue. "Residents support our efforts to restrict further proliferation, and by supporting new purpose built accommodation, we hope to see the excess private rented stock converted back into affordable homes for first time buyers and families. "However, we are concerned that another recent announcement by Caroline Flint - which proposed a change in the law to allow householders to extend their properties or convert attic space without planning permission - offers a loophole which student landlords could exploit. "I am already aware of numerous applications of this type in my own ward of North Heaton, which we fear are attempts to circumvent the council's student housing restraint policy by adding more bedrooms to facilitate conversion of dwelling houses into HMOs. This inconsistency needs to be addressed." MOTION AGREED BY NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL 4 April 2007 This Council notes that: *In England a family house and a house in multiple occupation ( HMO) with up to 6 tenants are in the same Use Class, in planning terms, which means that planning permission is not required to use what was a family house as an HMO. *In Northern Ireland the planning rules were changed in 2004, so that planning permission is needed to use a family house as an HMO. *If the planning rules in England were changed to those pertaining in Northern Ireland, it would be much easier to control the distribution and local density of HMOs in the City. Therefore Council resolves to ask the Government to change the planning rules in England to those of Northern Ireland, in respect of the use of family homes as HMOs. 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 10, 2008:
  • LIB DEM WARNING AS LABOUR BLOW THE ROOF OFF STUDENT CONVERSION PLANNING RESTRICTIONS
    A senior Newcastle councillor has reacted with concern to news that the Government is to scrap planning red tape on conversion of attic spaces to bedrooms. Housing Minister Caroline Flint said the plans would enable families to extend their homes without the need to apply for planning permission. The Government hopes the change will make it easier for families, who are unable to move because of the credit crunch, to create more space in their existing homes. Greg Stone, Parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East, warned the move could seriously undermine efforts taken by Newcastle City Council's Liberal Democrat administration to introduce an "Area of Housing Mix". The policy is designed to prevent massive proliferation of student rented housing in areas of the city like Jesmond, Heaton and Sandyford. The Lib Dems have introduced local planning policies which seek to make it more difficult for landlords to buy up family homes in established family residential areas and turn them into multi-occupancy student rentals, following previously unchecked growth in concentration of rented student accommodation in these parts of the city. Councillor Greg Stone, a councillor for North Heaton, said: "While we don't want to see people penalised who genuinely wish to expand their homes by means of loft conversions or extensions perhaps because of changing family circumstances or as an alternative to moving to a larger house during the credit crunch, we have serious reservations about this plan which appears to have been unilaterally announced without consultation by Labour. "My experience in Heaton and that of my councillor colleagues in Newcastle East is that the restrictions introduced by the Lib Dems after years of Labour complacency are an essential defence against landlords who seek to buy up family houses, convert the attic spaces, and add on extensions to cram in as many bedrooms as possible for renting to students. "I will be asking the city council to take urgent steps to clarify the position with the Government in order to protect the safeguards introduced by the Lib Dems. "There will be huge concern and anger in Jesmond, Heaton and Sandyford if Caroline Flint's panic measure allows more family homes to be lost to a surge of student conversions." 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
• 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
• Jul 28, 2008:
  • No 33 BUS SERVICE SAVED
    The number 33 bus, which has been threatened with the axe, has been saved - for now. This service connects Garden Village to the city centre via the Regent Centre, the High Street and Jesmond. A total of six routes in the city are either being axed or cut back because operator Stagecoach says it is losing 50p of every £1 spent running them. Strong interventions by local councillors have reversed the proposed cut to the 33 and a half hourly service is now guaranteed until at least next March. Councillor David Down said: "Further discussions will take place during the autumn on how to keep the service running. "We are pleased that after representations to Stagecoach, the bus operator has agreed to keep the service running until next year. However, Stagecoach has made it clear that for the No 33 to continue local people must use the service." 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