DOREEN SAYS 'THANKS'

WE would like to thank all residents of North Heaton who supported us in the recent city council elections when DOREEN was comfortably re-elected for another four-year term.

We will of course continue to work hard throughout the year on behalf of all residents of all political persuasions to represent our area effectively, deliver local improvements, and keep you informed through regular FOCUS newsletters.

Across the city, the Lib Dems increased their majority on the city council and gained seats in Denton, Fenham, Newburn, and Lemington.

There are now 49 Lib Dem councillors and 29 Labour councillors on the council after the Conservatives again failed to win any seats.

Councillor Doreen Huddart said: "We are very grateful that voters have re-elected us with a bigger majority after four years of controlling the city council and intend to keep up our agenda of keeping council tax under control, making the city cleaner, greener, and safer, and delivering continued improvements in crime reduction, school attainment, and council services.

"At local level we look forward to the opening of High Heaton's new library in September, improved local recycling collections, and continuing action on local traffic and parking issues, private rented sector housing, and dealing with any other problems raised with us by residents.

"We are starting a review of all outstanding traffic / parking issues with the council's highways department, and are drawing up a work programme to include action on 20mph limits for residential streets in Cochrane Park, junction improvements on Chillingham Road, and consideration of extensions to existing residents parking schemes, as well as road and pavement resurfacing."

We'll keep you updated on progress. We will also be carrying out a ward survey later in the year to enable you to raise any matters affecting your part of our area.