Newcastle upon Tyne Liberal Democrats

Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) have informed councillors that some of their customers experienced issues with their Direct Debit payments on Friday 8^th September. Unfortunately, customers with Direct Debit payments on that date had their account debited twice due to a problem being experienced across the country by their Direct Debit provider, Allpay. To rectify the error, Allpay aimed to re-credit the accounts of all affected customers on the same day. However, this was not possible, so some customers will be receiving credits to their account by the end of Tuesday 12^th September.

We, the undersigned residents of Newcastle upon Tyne, call on the Labour administration at theCity Council to abandon their proposal to hand the management of the city's parks over to a Trust on the following grounds:

• Management by a Trust would remove essential democratic accountability for our green spaces;

• This loss of accountability could lead to over-commercialisation of parks;

• The draft business plan developed for the Trust is based on many dubious assumptions and unrealistic financial projections;

• None of the income opportunities identified in that business plan actually require the formation of a Trust;

• The other Councils who have considered the Parks' Trust model have abandoned the idea.

At their conference in Bournemouth later this month, the Liberal Democrats will point out all the downsides of leaving the European Union and reinforce its vigorous defence of jobs, living standards, individual rights, international co-operation and the British national interest.

They will be asked to support the following motion:

Gosforth councillors will be on Gosforth High Street on the first Saturday of every month, outside the Shopping Centre (look out for the umbrella and the sandwich board)

This is in addition to private Councillor surgeries which are advertised widely and regularly.

We look forward to seeing you to discuss issues of concern, or just to say hello!

The instability of Westminster's supposedly 'strong and stable' voting system has been laid bare, according to the Electoral Reform Society definitive report on June's election.

The Society's landmark General Election report, 'The 2017 General Election: Volatile Voting, Random Results', reveals:

• Wasted votes: 68% of votes had no impact on the result - 22 million votes were wasted this election
• Volatile voting: This election saw the second highest electoral volatility (the movement of votes between parties) since 1931. People are switching sides and shopping around at 'astonishing' levels
• Tiny margins: 0.0016% of voters choosing differently would have given the Conservatives a majority, while the election saw rise in very marginal seats: eleven seats were won by fewer than 100 votes
• The 'hold your nose' election: ERS estimate 6.5 million people voted tactically, alongside surge in smaller parties standing aside
• A divisive system: First Past the Post is exaggerating divisions in the UK - Labour secured 29% of South East vote but got just 10% of seats, while Conservatives won 34% of the North East vote but got just 9% of seats. Meanwhile, the SNP continue to be over-represented in Scotland, as is Labour in Wales, while Northern Ireland voters are forced into two camps
• Seats not matching votes: The Conservatives largely benefited from the discrepancy between votes and seats, winning 56% of English seats on 46% of the vote - while losing out significantly in Wales. The voting system is struggling to keep up with huge changes in partisan alignment.
• The results under PR: Labour would have emerged as largest party under Scotland and Northern Ireland's Single Transferable Vote system, according to a huge YouGov survey of voters' party preferences

South Gosforth Green is well known to locals as a quiet oasis next to the noise of Haddrick's Mill.

Newcastle City Council has released plans to build bungalows on about a third of the Green.

Whilst we support the Council's aim to build housing specifically to aid those touched with autism we believe there are better nearby places available. Most notably the former Jesmond Dene Nursery site which the council is planning to sell off for millions of pounds. Like South Gosforth Green the nursery is set-off from the main road. Unlike the Green the Nursery gives access to the superb Jesmond Dene which would be of great benefit to the residents.

Liberal Democrats Councillors are calling on Newcastle City Council to bring forward proposals for redevelopment of the Arena site and adjacent derelict land in the Pottery Lane area of the city, suggesting it could be the next key regeneration priority for the city centre.

The existing Arena will be surplus to requirements following its move to a new site on Gateshead Quays in years to come, and its current site forms part of a wider area of brownfield land much of which has been derelict for many years.

The Opposition Lib Dems are calling on the council to make progress in regenerating this part of the city after prolonged inaction, suggesting the area offers the potential to generate significant economic and employment benefits.

Opposition leader Cllr Anita Lower said:

"Anyone crossing the river by train or Metro can see welcome signs of economic development in the form of cranes and construction at the Stephenson Quarter and Forth Banks, much of which was set in motion by the previous Lib Dem council. But in the area around the Arena, there's little sign of development opportunities being realised.

"We recognise the area is complicated in terms of level change, access, and brownfield decontamination, but we would like to see the council seize the opportunity afforded by the Arena's departure to come up with a major development blueprint for the area. It may be some time until the Arena departs, but given that it generally takes a decade to get from vision to reality in major regeneration, the council needs to get on with it now. We have heard aspirational talk from the council about mixed use development but as of this moment, there is nothing happening, and it has been like that for a long time.

"We would like to see the council reap the benefit of this site as a location for employment, whether in terms of an expansion of Newcastle Business Park or as the location for a major new entertainment attractor. We'd like it to become something more than just another apartment village. When the Lib Dems ran Newcastle, we were keen to see this area be considered as the location for a convention centre. Regrettably, Newcastle has missed the boat on that, but we believe the council needs to show more ambition and get on with creating jobs. There's no excuse for this part of the city centre remaining derelict indefinitely."

Read more here

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/what-happen-metro-arena-new-13481572