The City Council has just agreed and published the Ouseburn Surface Water Management Plan. The plan examines the effects of new development and climate change on the Ouseburn over the next 15 years and identifies sustainable ways in which to manage it by setting out ways in which the catchment can be managed in order to reduce flood risk and create other environmental benefits for the Ouseburn. There are references in the document to the combined sewer overflows (for example at Red House Farm) that control flows into the trunk sewer and discharge to the Ouseburn at times of heavy rain. In the list of recommended actions is one for the Fawdon area : "Fawdon Separation and Attenuation: Separation of the combined sewer network in Fawdon - a new surface water network would take flows to a new detention basin. It is estimated that 33% of surface water entering the combined system could be removed. A small SuDS scheme at Afton Way will be delivered subject to planning approval and opportunities to install SuDS at Nestle site in Fawdon are currently being considered". The full document can be read via the links below

We have been concerned for some time that the former community centre in Shandon Way, off Hillsview Avenue in North Kenton has been standing empty. We were encouraging the Council to find new tenants for the owners (The Guinness Partnership Trust) and the Council was told by Guinness that they had plans for a small housing development. However, all had gone quiet for some time and it was costing the council a lot of money dealing with security and external maintenance. We have now been in touch directly with Guinness who say that housing is not viable for them and their Assets team will now start working again with the council to find alternatives - including proposals form any local charities or community groups.

In several parts of the ward (and Red House Farm has been particularly mentioned) the bin collectors are often leaving bins in positions that block the footpath. This has been raised by local residents directly and we have added our voices. It's surely no extra effort to put them back where they have been presented for emptying.

The latest on the housing development proposals for Afton Way, North Kenton are that after extensive discussions with Northumbrian Water, Bernicia made a number of improvements to the scheme to deal with flood risk. These include rain water gardens, french drains, rain water butts, permeable paving and a larger on-site attenuation tank. Erection of 4 no 3 bed houses, 4 no 2 bed houses, 3 no 2 bed bungalows with associated access, parking and landscaping including stopping up of existing highway. The proposals have now been approved by Planning and work will start in the new year.

Council's rollout of free Wi-Fi in public buildings has included the communal lounges in all Council sheltered accommodation schemes, young people's schemes and those tower blocks which have a communal flat or lounge available. As many tenants, and in particular those living in sheltered accommodation, have low confidence and/or skills, the Council is launching the free Wi-Fi in a staggered way to support tenants in using the service and getting online. Rather than publicise the new service widely immediately, there is to be a programme of "launch events" at each of the sites between now and March, including Conewood House, Fawdon and Leagreen Court, Coxlodge in January.

After a long campaign by Newcastle Lib Dem councillors to raise the issue of proliferation of hot food takeaways in local shopping areas, we are pleased to report that the council is now consulting on a new planning policy designed to limit the growth in numbers - we have been calling for this for a long time following concerns about takeaways displacing other local shops. The council is now consulting on proposals that would mean tougher rules on the "residential amenity " impact of new takeaways close to dwellings, and discouraging new takeaways within 400 metres of secondary schools or where there is already a "cluster". However, the new rules will not cover opening hours (a licensing matter), with late night opening a concern, and will not affect existing premises. We also feel the council could still do more to support the "retail mix" and character of local shopping areas. We recognise takeaways are often locally-run businesses and serve local communities but we are concerned that too many in close proximity have a negative effect on local shopping areas, particularly in terms of litter and extractor fan noise and emissions. We broadly welcome the new proposals and encourage residents to have your say - you can email comments toplanningpolicy@newcastle.gov.uk or write to Planning Policy c/o the Civic Centre

More news (from the company's press release) on the exciting plans for the Sanofi site in Fawdon: "Regeneration specialists Trevor Cartner and Chris Musgrave have bought the pharmaceutical site from Sanofi. The 19.3 acre site comprises over 400,000 sq ft of high quality laboratory, manufacturing and office space and will be redeveloped into a multi-tenanted science and technology park to be called Northumbria Park. Sanofi ceased its production operations at the end of July 2015, having owned the site for over 25 years and was keen for any new owner to help achieve the Sanofi objective to leave a legacy of employment on the site, by creating jobs for the skilled labour force in the region. The new owners have already agreed heads of terms with three tenants looking to take 150,000 sq ft of space and negotiations are ongoing with five other potential occupiers.

Cartner and Musgrave have a strong track record in regeneration with a portfolio comprising Wynyard Park (also in the North East), Discovery Park (which is owned with Palmer Capital) and Stone Hill Park in Kent. Mr Cartner said: "Northumbria Park gives us a chance to create a new science and technology park in Newcastle to compliment the established incubator facilities by providing much needed grow-on/scale up capacity and capability in the region. We have several firm enquiries from science and pharmaceutical tenants already and are confident that we can fill the space very quickly" Mr Musgrave added: "Many other developers looked at the site with a view to demolishing the existing buildings and redeveloping the site for housing. We were able to persuade Sanofi that our experience and background in running successful science parks meant that we could respect the sites heritage and create a thriving new science community"